St. Peter's Church, Leuven

The Saint Peter's Church (Dutch: "Sint-Pieterskerk") of Leuven, Belgium, is situated on that city's "Grote Markt" (main market square), across from the ornate Town Hall. Built mostly in the 15th century in Brabantine Gothic style, the church is in the form of a cross with a low bell tower that has never been completed.

History

The first church on the site, made of wood and presumably founded in 986, burned down in 1176. [http://www.leuven.be/showpage.asp?iPageID=1714 The Great Market Square] , Leuven city website (accessed 15 February 2007)] This was replaced in stone by a Romanesque church, featuring a westwork flanked by two round towers as at of today's church.

Construction of the present Gothic edifice, significantly larger than its predecessor, was begun in roughly 1425, and for more than half a century was continued in a remarkably uniform style, replacing the older church progressively from east (chancel) to west. Its construction period overlapped that of the Town Hall across the "Markt", and in the earlier decades of construction shared the same succession of architects as its civic neighbor: Sulpitius van Vorst at first, followed by Jan II Keldermans and then Matheus de Layens. In 1497 the building was practically complete, although modifications, especially at the west end, continued.

Towers

In 1458, a fire struck the old Romanesque towers that still flanked the west end of the in-progress building. The first arrangements for a new tower complex came shortly thereafter, but were never realized. Then, in 1505, Joost Matsys (brother of painter Quentin Matsys) forged an ambitious plan to erect three colossal towers of freestone surmounted by openwork spires, which would have had a grand effect, as the central steeple would have been approximately 170 m high, [nl icon [http://www2.asro.kuleuven.ac.be/asro/Nederlands/stadhuis/titel/welkom.htm 550 jaar Stadhuis Leuven] ] making it the world's tallest structure at the time. Insufficient ground stability and funds proved this plan impracticable, as the central tower reached less than a third of its intended height before the project was abandoned in 1541. After the height was further reduced following partial collapses from 1570 to 1604, the main tower now rises barely above the church roof; at its sides are mere stubs. The architect had, however, made a maquette of the original design, now preserved inside the southern transept.

Despite their incomplete status, the towers won St. Peter's Church a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France.

War and after

The church suffered severe damage in both World Wars. In 1914 a fire caused the collapse of the roof and in 1944 a bomb destroyed part of the northern side.

The reconstructed roof is surmounted at the crossing by a flèche, which, unlike the 18th-century cupola that preceded it, blends stylistically with the rest of the church.

A very late (1998) addition is the "jacquemart", or automaton, which periodically rings a bell near the clock on the gable of the southern transept.

Artworks and relics

Despite the devastation of the World Wars, the church remains rich in works of art. The chancel and ambulatory were organized in 1998 as a museum, where visitors can view a collection of sculptures, paintings and metalwork.

Outstanding are two paintings by the Flemish Primitive Dirk Bouts, the "Last Supper" (1464-1468) and the "Martyrdom of St Erasmus" (1465). The street leading toward the main portal of the church is named in the artist's honor.

An elaborate stone tabernacle (1450), in the form of a six-sided tower, soars amid a mass of crocketed pinnacles to a height of 12.5 meters. A creation of the architect de Layens (1450), it is an example of what is called in Dutch a "sacramentstoren", or in German a "Sakramentshaus", on which artists lavished more pains than on almost any other article of decoration.

In side chapels are the tombs of Duke Henry I of Brabant (d. 1235), his wife Matilda (d. 1211) and their daughter Maria (d. 1260). Godfrey II of Leuven is also buried in the church.

A large and elaborate oaken pulpit, which comes from the abbey church of Ninove, is carved with a life-size representation of Norbert of Xanten falling from a horse.

One of the oldest objects in the art collection is a 12th-century wooden head, all that remains of a crucifix burnt in World War I.

There is also Nicolaas de Bruyne's 1442 sculpture of the Madonna and Child enthroned on the seat of wisdom ("Sedes Sapientae"). The theme is duplicated still today on the emblem of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

References

External links

* [http://www.belgiumview.com/belgiumview/tl1/view0000430.php4 Photo gallery] at Belgiumview.com
* [http://www.kerknet.be/parochie/parochie_fiche.php?parochieID=1620 Services] at Kerknet.be