The Sint-Andries church (St. Andrew’s) is a catholic church in Antwerp. The church is located in the neighbourhood Sint-Andries. The area is known for the antique stores at the Kloosterstraat, MoMu Fashion Museum and the fashion stores around the Kammenstraat and Nationalestraat. The exterior of the church is constructed in the gothic architectural style. The interior is mostly designed in baroque architectural style. In the 19th century the Sint-Andries church was known as the ‘parish of misery’ because the district was mainly populated by less fortunate people (Mannaerts, 2013).
Table of Contents
History
The first construction was commissioned by the Augustine’s. They moved to Antwerp in the early 16th century. The Augustine’s built a convent with a chapel in 1513 at the same location as the Sint-Andries church. Years later they were expelled by the local government because of their Lutheran sympathies. In 1529 the convent chapel was expanded and consecrated as a parish church. The Sint-Andries church was later expanded with a transept and a tower on the west side of the building.
Architecture
The floor plan of the Sint-Andries church is in the shape of a Latin cross. Most gothic Catholic churches have this Latin cross shaped floor plan. The Latin Cross is a reference to the cross of Jesus. According to medieval tradition, the Sint-Andries church faces east, a symbol for the rising sun. The gothic architecture is a variation of the Brabant-gothic, a regional version of the European gothic. This form can also be found at the Sint-Jacobs church and Sint-Paulus church in Antwerp.
The tower
The history of the Sint-Andries church starts in 1529 when the monastery church becomes a parish church. A gothic tower on the west side of the church is built but in 1755 the tower collapses. The tower is replaced by the current baroque construction with an open structure. During the Belgian struggle for independence, the tower served as a lookout post to keep an eye on the Dutch occupation troops.
Iconoclasme & calvinist regime
During the iconoclasme (Beeldenstorm) in 1566 most of the furniture and the music organ is destroyed. Under the Calvinist regime in Antwerp in 1578, a wall was erected in the Sint-Andries church. The church was divided into two parts. The hall with the pulpit is assigned to the Calvinists, who emphasize the proclamation of the Word. The Catholics, for whom worship is more important, are given the choir and transept, containing several altars. In 1581 Catholic worship is suspended and the choir and transept are destroyed. With this thorough approach they wanted to prevent Catholics to go to mass.
Baroque interior
After the conquest of Antwerp in 1585 by the Spaniards, the Catholics get their church back. In the gothic church altars are built with new paintings from Otto van Veen. He is known as painter and humanist and he is the teacher of Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens children were baptised in the Sint-Andries church. Between 1660 and 1683 the Sint-Andries church is extended with gothic exterior elements. In the 19th century the interior of the church is furnished with elements in the prevailing baroque style, like the high altar and the pulpit.
High altar
The most prominent eye-catcher of the Sint-Andries church is the high altar. The baroque altar is characterized by the white marble sculptures of the Madonna, apostles and angels. The altar was not originally made for the Sint-Andries church. It was designed for the Sint-Bernardus Abbey in Hemiksem. After the abbey was closed down by the French Revolutionary Government, the altar was bought and transported by ship via the Schelde to Antwerp.
Pulpit
The baroque oak pulpit is made in 1825 by sculptor Jan Frans van Geel and carpenter Jan-Baptist van Hool. The human sculptures and other objects are very detailed and life seize. Take a few minutes to watch the illustrative story. Pay attention to the boat, the fishing nets, fish, lobsters and the flying angels.
French Revolution
The French Revolutionary Government imposes a war tax in 1794. The Sint-Andries church is forced to turn over church silver and loses a few art objects. In order to encourage the people to spend their time more useful, the revolutionaries decide to close all churches in 1797. Priests who publicly swear an oath of hatred towards the royalties are allowed to choose a church of their choice as a reward. The Catholic Church adheres to its principles on behalf of God. The legal authority of the King can not be renounced. Most priests remain faithful to the ecclesiastical position. Priest Jan-Michiel Timmermans is willing to take the oath. The Catholic church is against him and does not recognize him as a priest. But thanks to priest Timmermans the Sint-Andries church survives the French regime. Priest Mortelmans takes the same oath and he saved the Sint-Jacob church in Antwerp.
Stained glass windows
The first stained glass window was created in 1855 in the Chapel of Mary. It was the start of more neo-gothic stained glass windows in the church. In 1889 most of the colourful windows on the north side of the church were destroyed due to an explosion of the gunpowder factory in Oosterweel. It takes until WWI before they are all replaced. In 1945 during WWII a V-bomb falls on the Vrijdagmarkt, killing 19 civilians. The stained glass windows on the north side of the church are again destroyed and replaced.
The chapel of Mary
In 1585 the Catholics regained possession of their parish church. They had a statue made of Mary. The wooden sculpture is surprisingly slim and elegant. The white coloured cheeks meet the beauty ambitions of the 16th century. The statue of Mary has her own wardrobe with various coats. Throughout the ages Mary was always presented in the dress of that time. The fashion year of 2001 was the reason to make a contemporary dress for Mary. Fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester designed a dress with a collar of white pigeon feathers. See picture below.
Visit Sint-Andries church
The Sint-Andries church is located in the neighbourhood Sint-Andries. The admission to visit the church is free. The church is open in the morning from 9-12pm and in the afternoon from 14-17pm.
Would you like to see other monumental churches in Antwerp? Visit the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe cathedral in the city centre of Antwerp. Or visit the Sint-Carolus Borromeus church at the baroque Hendrik Conscience square.
In The World’s Jungle – Travel Blog
Check out the monumental highlights in Antwerp or step into the world of the famous baroque painter Pieter Paul Rubens. Visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum and find out more about the printers family. Discover how eight generations lived and worked in their private house, courtyard and ateliers. In de same street as the Maagdenhuis museum, de Lange Gasthuisstraat, is another museum: Mayer van den Bergh Museum. He was a private art collector and his entire collection includes more than 3000 objects. Another article about Antwerp is about historical and unique theatres and cinemas in Antwerp.
Bibliography
Mannaerts, R. (2013). Sint-Andries: de Antwerpse Sint-Andrieskerk, een openbaring. Toerismepastoraal Antwerpen.
