Kapelle-op-den-Bos (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Kapelle-op-den-Bos will keep its 3 churches open for Catholic services for 5 years. Mayor Mathias Diricx plans cultural events, urgent Ramsdonk church repairs, and €85,000 restoration for the main church.
As VRT News reported, the 3 churches in Kapelle-op-den-Bos, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, will remain open for Catholic services for the next 5 years. Masses, funerals, and other religious ceremonies will continue in all 3 locations.
At the same time, authorities plan to use the churches more often for cultural events. They mentioned that concerts, exhibitions, and lectures could take place in the main church in the centre of Kapelle-op-den-Bos as well as in the churches of Ramsdonk and Nieuwenrode.
“We conduct a count twice a year. In Kapelle-op-den-Bos, we haven’t seen a significant decline in churchgoers in recent years,
says Mayor Mathias Diricx (CD&V).
“We still have a vibrant religious community, supported by active associations operating in the church buildings. Therefore, we see no reason to repurpose or deconsecrate our three churches.”
What plans are in place for Kapelle-op-den-Bos churches and repairs?
Special plans are being considered for the church in Nieuwenrode. The space where Mass is held will be reduced. A small section, currently the chancel, will stay dedicated to religious services. It will have a separate entrance. Weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies can still take place there.
Mayor Diricx has stressed the urgent need to restore the listed church in Ramsdonk. He said the building is in very poor condition. Stones sometimes fall from the roof, and part of the tower is leaning. Work is urgently needed to prevent further damage.
The municipality has applied for subsidies, but the process is taking a long time. They mentioned that the town cannot wait any longer. Immediate work will begin on the roof, the tower, and the rainwater drainage system. A new subsidy application will also be submitted to cover urgent action.
Restoration work is also planned for the main church in the centre of Kapelle-op-den-Bos. Repairs will focus on the roof, the tower, and the supporting buttresses. The estimated cost for this work is around €85,000.
In Nieuwenrode, the church council has managed the building for years without municipal subsidies. The council is prepared to make the necessary investments to maintain the church itself. The municipality has said it will fund additional projects, such as building extra restrooms, if the church is given a new purpose.
In 2016, an initiative for the churches of Kapelle-op-den-Bos received approval from the municipality. Several old churches in Belgium have been recently restored and repurposed. In 2019, the Blaisantkerk was converted into a community space to be carried out by local organisations in Ghent, while keeping the architectural historic layers intact.
Martin’s Patershof in Mechelen was also turned into a hotel while adequately respecting the faith-based functionality of the church building. Additionally, plans are being developed to transform St. Francis Xavier Church in Anderlecht into a culture and sports centre.
