Saint-Joseph Church (Aalst)

The Saint-Joseph Church (Dutch: Sint-Jozefkerk) is a neo-Gothic church with basilical construction, located in the Belgian city of Aalst (province of East Flanders). Work on the church started in 1868 and was completed in 1908. The future of the church is currently uncertain due to serious stability problems however in 2023 it was decided to restore the building.[1][2] It is the tallest building in the city of Aalst (91 m). The restoration will cost 36 million euros and will get subsidisation from the Flemish government.[3]

Saint-Joseph Church
Sint-Jozefkerk
Religion
AffiliationCatholicism
Location
LocationAalst, Belgium
Architecture
Completed1908

History

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The parish church was built for the new neighborhood on the Esplanadeplein, which was then located on the border of the city center. The foundation stone was laid in 1868, and in 1873 the church was recognized as an additional parish church. The preliminary design was made by Joostens,[1] his design was adapted and executed by Modeste de Noyette.[4]

The church has been in a bad state for several years and has not been actively used since a few years after 2014. In this period, a new interpretation of the church was already being considered.[3]

Saint-Joseph Church organ

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Inside the church is an original organ made by the Vereecken brothers and Remi Rooms, built in the year 1900. Which has been protected since 1974.[5]

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Parochiekerk Sint-Jozef". inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  2. ^ "Aalst: gemeenteraad keurt restauratie Sint-Jozefkerk goed". TVOOST - Regionaal nieuws uit Oost-Vlaanderen (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  3. ^ a b "Geen ander scenario mogelijk: Aalst gaat Sint-Jozefkerk restaureren "voor 36 miljoen euro, gespreid in de tijd"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 23 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  4. ^ "De Noyette, Modeste". inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be (in Dutch). 22 February 1847. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  5. ^ "Parochiekerk Sint-Jozef: orgel". inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be (in Dutch). 30 September 1974. Retrieved 2023-04-01.

50°56′28″N 4°02′07″E / 50.9411°N 4.0352°E / 50.9411; 4.0352