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Church of Our Lady of Finisterrae

Coordinates: 50°51′11″N 4°21′20″E / 50.85306°N 4.35556°E / 50.85306; 4.35556
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Church of Our Lady of Finisterrae
  • Église Notre-Dame du Finistère (French)
  • Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Finisterraekerk (Dutch)
Map
50°51′11″N 4°21′20″E / 50.85306°N 4.35556°E / 50.85306; 4.35556
LocationRue Neuve / Nieuwstraat
1000 City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region
CountryBelgium
DenominationCatholic Church
History
DedicationOur Lady of Finisterrae
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationProtected[1]
Designated24/12/1958
Architectural typeChurch
Style
Administration
Archdiocese Mechelen–Brussels
Clergy
ArchbishopLuc Terlinden
(Primate of Belgium)

The Church of Our Lady of Finisterrae (French: Église Notre-Dame du Finistère; Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Finisterraekerk) is a Catholic church in central Brussels, Belgium. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Finisterrae.[1]

The current church, which combines Brabantine Baroque and neoclassical styles, was built at the beginning of the 18th century, replacing an older chapel dating back to the early 17th century, when the Rue Neuve/Nieuwstraat was created, to house a miraculous statuette of the Virgin. The complex was designated a historic monument in 1958.[1][2]

History

Origins

As early as the 15th century, a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady stood near Brussels' vegetable gardens, at the edge of the urban area (with some exaggeration Finis Terrae or "End of the World"), hence the name it acquired of Our Lady of Finisterrae.[3][1] Another tradition has it that the name comes from a small statue of Our Lady brought back from Cape Finisterre in Galicia, Spain, which became the object of popular devotion.[3]

The original chapel was destroyed in an invasion by the Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War, but it was subsequently rebuilt on a larger scale thanks to the many donations and endowments from pilgrims. In 1617, the archbishop of Mechelen Matthias Hovius solemnly consecrated the new sanctuary, and in 1620, the statue of Our Lady of Finisterrae was returned to its rightful place.[4]

In the 17th century, the district had become highly urbanised and was incorporated into the City of Brussels. To accommodate this growing population, the chapel was promoted to a parish church in 1646,[5][1] which already had to be enlarged by 1654.[2]

Current church

The church that we see today is the third. The architects are probably Guilliam or Willem de Bruyn [fr], who also who took part in the reconstruction of the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square), and the sculptor Hendrik Frans Verbruggen.[6][1][2] Construction began in 1708 with the choir, continued in 1713 with the naves and stopped around 1730, when the interior and the lower part of the façade were completed.[1]

Closed during the French Revolution, the church was returned to worship and restored in 1804.[1][2] In 1828, the upper part of the façade was built and crowned with an octagonal lantern.[6] A statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by the twelve stars of the Apocalypse was added in 1857.[6][2]

The church was designated a historic monument on 24 December 1958.[1] In 1970, a fire engulfed the bell tower, which was subsequently restored.[1] This incident took place only three years after another major fire destroyed the À L'Innovation department store on the other side of the Rue Neuve/Nieuwstraat.[7] Restoration work was carried out in 1988, based on 1983 plans by the architects M. and P. Mignot.[1]

Description

The church has a neoclassical appearance, even if the influence of Brabantine Baroque, which rejected overly severe straight lines, is perceptible. The building adopts the basilica plan: three-aisled with a central nave, two side aisles, and a semi-circular choir, without a transept. The five-bay main nave is closed by a semi-circular apse, while the side aisles end with chapels.[1][2]

Interior

The interior, with its late Baroque decorations of stucco and faux marble with composite motifs of garlands, foliage, shells, etc., contrasts with the layout of the façade.[2] They are the work of the Swiss sculptor François Antoine Peri [fr].[8] The church also contains paintings by Gaspar de Crayer, Joseph van Severdonck and Charles de Groux.[9][1]

The naturalistic pulpit is by I. Duray Senior (1758).[10][1] It depicts the Fall of Man, between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Death. Moses with the Tablets of the Law and his brother Aaron represent the Old Covenant, while the crucified Christ is suggestive of salvation. The pulpit cover, forming a large canopy, is suspended between two pillars and supported by sculpted angels. Beneath it is a dove symbolising the Holy Ghost.[10]

  • The nave
    The nave
  • Statue in the nave
    Statue in the nave
  • Pulpit by I. Duray Senior (1758)
    Pulpit by I. Duray Senior (1758)
  • Organ by Hippolyte Loret (1849–1856)
    Organ by Hippolyte Loret (1849–1856)
  • Side chapel
    Side chapel

Chapel of Our Lady of Good Fortune

Main article: Notre Dame du Bon Succès
Notre Dame du Bon Succès (16th century)

Another polychrome wooden statuette of a Virgin and Child (Sedes Sapientiae) has found a home in the church; it is said to bring good luck in games of chance and in examinations. Originally from Aberdeen in Scotland, it is believed to have been sent from Aberdeen to Dunkirk by William Laing, the Procurer for the King of Spain. The statue came to Brussels in 1625, where it was venerated in the Temple of the Augustinians. It was transferred to Finisterrae in 1814, when the Augustinian Temple became a Protestant place of worship. Due to the large number of faithful who came to pray to Notre Dame du Bon Succès ("Our Lady of Good Fortune"), a side chapel was built in 1852 to house it.[11][1]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (2016). "Eglise paroissiale Notre-Dame du Finistère" (in French). Brussels. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Eglise Notre-Dame du Finistère - Informations sur l'édifice - Orgues en Région de Bruxelles-Capitale". www.orgues.irisnet.be. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b Castiau 2011, p. 2.
  4. ^ Castiau 2011, p. 2–4.
  5. ^ Castiau 2011, p. 4.
  6. ^ a b c Castiau 2011, p. 6.
  7. ^ Farnsworth, Clyde (23 May 1967). "22 Die in Brussels Fire at Store That Was Target of Red Protest; At Least 22 Are Killed in Brussels Department Store Fire No Positive Explanation". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. ^ Buyle 2008, p. 69, 75, 161.
  9. ^ Castiau 2011, p. 9–17.
  10. ^ a b Castiau 2011, p. 8.
  11. ^ Castiau 2011, p. 17–22.

Bibliography

  • Buyle, Anne (2008). L'Église Notre-Dame du Finistère à Bruxelles aux XVIIIe et XIXe siècles (in French). Brussels: Nauwelaerts. ISBN 978-2-8038-0075-9.
  • Castiau, Claude (2011). The Church of Our Lady of Finisterrae. Schnell, Art Guide. Vol. 2704 (1st ed.). Regensburg: Schnell & Steiner. ISBN 978-3-7954-6772-2.


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