Saint-Michael and Saint Rolende's church GERPINNES / BELGIUM description:This Saint Michael and Saint Rolende's church is a mix of several
building styles.
The eldest part is the Romanesque
western tower from the 12th century, with besides it a round
staircase tower. it's a very closed tower, with a lot of
large wall anchors, and almost no windows.
The nave is Gothic and dates frm
the middle of the 16th century. It carries
cross ribvaulting and gets it's light via
pointed arch windows.
In 1761, the choir was adapted and the crypt filled
up.
Inside, there are several noteworthy artefacts, of which we mention
- The Romanesque baptismal font from the 12th centuryu. The
4 heads represent the 4 Mesopotanian rivers (from Genesis): Eufraat, Tigris, Pishon
and Gihon.
- Mausoleum for Saint Rolende. EIn fact, there are 2
tombstones for this Saint. The first, coming from the crypt,
is worked in in a side wall. The second one, a creation from the end of the 16th
century, is placed in the nave of the church.
- Saint Rolende's reliquary. This was made in 1599
by Henri Libert's atelier from Namur. It is made in
gilt cupper and silber, and shows
episodes from Saint Rolende's life.
- The organ in
a nice organ-case was restorated in 2004 by Rudi Jacques
Around the church, there is still the graveyard. One finds
nice old tombsones there. However, I find it sad that the town is too severe,
removing slightly damaged ones.
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