St. Lawrence's Church, Antwerp
| Sint‑Laurentiuskerk | |
|---|---|
| Saint Lawrence's Church | |
 Sint‑Laurentiuskerk in Antwerp | |
Sint‑Laurentiuskerk | |
| 51°11′55.02″N 4°24′11.95″E / 51.1986167°N 4.4033194°E | |
| Address | Van Schoonbekestraat 155, 2018 Antwerp |
| Country | Belgium |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1659 |
| Dedication | Saint Lawrence |
| Consecrated | 9 August 1934 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Jef Huygh |
Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Art Deco, Neo‑Byzantine |
Years built | 1932–1941 |
| Groundbreaking | August 1932 |
| Completed | July 1941 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, copper domes |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Mechelen–Brussels |
| Diocese | Diocese of Antwerp |
| Parish | Antwerp |
Sint‑Laurentiuskerk (English: Saint Lawrence's Church) is a Roman Catholic parish church in Antwerp, Belgium, located on the corner of Markgravelei and Van Schoonbekestraat. It stands out for its four-phase history, culminating in an impressive 20th-century Art Deco/Neo-Byzantine structure built between 1932 and 1941.[1][2]
History
The parish was founded in 1659 as the first full parish outside Antwerp's medieval walls.[2] The first modest church, complete with cemetery, was enlarged in 1671 but replaced after about a century.[2]
In 1777, a larger second church was built, only to be demolished in 1814 by General Lazare Carnot during military fortifications.[2] Under Dutch rule, a neoclassical third church designed by Pierre Bruno Bourla was erected (1824–25), diagonally positioned on the current site. It was enlarged in 1892 with twin western towers.[2]
That building was later demolished and replaced by the current (fourth) church: foundations were set in 1932, the nave and choir completed and consecrated on 9 August 1934, and the tower and chapels finalised by July 1941.[1][2]
Since 1988, it has been protected as a heritage site by the Flemish government.[1]
Architecture
Designed by Jef Huygh, the church blends Art Deco sobriety with Neo-Byzantine spatial symbolism.[1][2] Its central-plan brick construction features a striking copper dome, white-hardstone accents, symmetrical façade geometry, and a freestanding square tower crowned with copper domes and stone angels by Antoon Damen.[2]
Interior
Notable interior features include:
- A 1934 electro-pneumatic organ by Bernard Pels & Zoon (Lier), inaugurated by Flor Peeters; it remains largely original with over 4,000 pipes.[1]
- Mosaic "Stations of the Cross" by Eugène Yoors and additional mosaics (Pilgrim artists, Joan Collette 1956).[1][2]
- A suspended copper ciborium over the altar and copper details (balustrade, capitals) crafted by Rie Haan's workshop.[2]
- Stained glass windows (Jos Smolderen, 1949) displaying Eucharistic symbolism, and dedicated chapels (Thérèse, Resurrection) with mosaics by Jean Gaudin (1941) and Joan Collette (1956–57).[2]
Cultural Role
Beyond regular worship, the church hosts monthly "Wandelconcerten" since 2008 in its Neo-Byzantine ambiance.[3] It also houses the Constance Teichmann Hall and a 1950s stone statue, commemorating the "Angel of Antwerp" philanthropist.[2]