Middelkerke - L'Église - Sint-Willibrordus

            The Postcard

A postally unused carte postale that was published by Ern. Thill of Simonisstraat 20-22, Brussels. The card has a divided back.

Middelkerke

Middelkerke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, on the North Sea, west of Ostend. In 2018, Middelkerke had a population of 19,371.

The first reference of 'Middelkerca' is found in 1218. Before 1876 it mainly was a farming settlement.

In 1902, Middlekerke became the world's first municipality to have their drinking water disinfected by continuous chlorination.

The Noordzeecross is a February cyclo-cross race held in Middelkerke, which is part of the Superprestige.

Sint-Willibrordus

The church of Saint Willibrord is located at Spermaliestraat-Westendelaan, 8430 Middelkerke.

The church stands out because of its two towers of different styles and materials. The white stone tower (previously a lighthouse) is a remnant of the 17th. century church which was preserved during the building’s demolition in the 19th. century. In 1848 a new Neo-Gothic church was built in brick.

It was rebuilt in the 1920’s after its destruction during WWI. In 1930-35 it was enlarged towards the south and with a second brick tower in the south east in Neo-Romanesque- Byzantine style. It is a square area with three choirs, a large nave and narrower side naves.

On the pediment above the entrance Christ, Mary Mediatrix and Saint Willibrord are represented.

The altar piece dedicated to Saint Willibrord (1854) shows scenes from his life. In 1935 another altar was set up alongside this one.

The Miraculous Cross was buried in the beach during the Iconoclasm and was slowly forgotten, but it reappeared spontaneously in 1657.

Inside the church are restored frescoes, stained glass windows and some remaining from the old church.

Features of the Church

-- The Miraculous Cross in the right apse. Worship of the cross dates back to 1569. The church thus became a regional place of pilgrimage, especially for fishermen.
-- The dome above the nave. In 1935 the dome was decorated with neo-byzantine paintings designed by O. Hoge, an artist from Ghent. They depict the four Evangelists.
-- The high altar in the old church. The old church now serves as winter chapel. The interior is sober, with whitewashed walls in the nave and chancel under a vault of cross rib arches. 
-- The new high altar and canopy. This altar in the 19th. century neo-gothic church dates from around 1935, designed by the gold/mosaic artist Linthout of Bruges.
-- The stained glass windows. These were restored in 1887-1889 and again in 1915-1916. 
-- Paintings in the old church. There are several historic paintings belonging to the Flemish School of painters. These date from the 17th. and 18th. century, and depict scenes from the life of the Holy Mary and the Holy Family.

Taken on: August 25, 2022

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Sets appears in: • Belgium • Great War

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