Church of Our Lady, Melsele

51°13′17″N 4°16′56″E / 51.22139°N 4.28222°E / 51.22139; 4.28222LocationMelsele
Beveren, East FlandersCountryBelgiumDenominationRoman Catholic ChurchHistoryStatusParish churchDedicationSt. MaryArchitectureHeritage designationregistered heritage site (beschermd erfgoed)Designated1982Architectural typePrimarily GothicAdministrationDioceseGhent

The church of Our Lady, Melsele (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk van Melsele) is a Roman Catholic parish church in Melsele, in the commune of Beveren, in East Flanders, Belgium. It is a registered heritage site (beschermd erfgoed).^[1][2]

History

The church was first mentioned in writing in 1055. The current building, primarily Gothic, was built from the 13th to the 17th century. As of 1936, the three choirs were registered monuments, whereas the whole building was registered in 1982. In 1995, original paintings of the 15th-century vault were discovered in the upper choir. In 2001, the restoration of the church was nominated for the Flemish Monument Award.^[1][2]

Organ

The pipe organ of the church dates back to the 18th century. Its latest restoration took place in 1989. The organ belongs to the Melsele Organ Committee (Orgelcomité Melsele), an association without a lucrative purpose.

Each year, an organ concert takes place in the church.

References

Further reading

• Anthony, Demey (1981). "7N1 (B-L)". Inventaris van het cultuurbezit in België, Architectuur, Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen, Arrondissement Sint-Niklaas, Bouwen door de eeuwen heen in Vlaanderen (in Dutch). Brussels - Gent.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)