Sint-Franciscuskerk
Sint-Franciscuskerk stands in Merksem, a district of Antwerp, as a brick parish church with blue natural-stone details. Henri Blomme designed its southeast-facing cruciform basilica between 1893 and 1896, combining eclectic forms with Neobyzantine touches.
A prominent west tower marks the entrance, while a square dome rises above the crossing and a semicircular apse closes the church. Inside, three aisles extend across five bays, with side chapels, sacristies, stained-glass windows, and furnishings designed by Blomme and made by sculptor Pierre Peeters. The church grew from Merksem’s rapid expansion as Antwerp’s harbour moved northward, and its second parish was created in 1890 to serve the rising population.
Lightning struck the tower in 1902, while shelling damaged the building in 1940. Later repairs restored the roofs, dome, gutters, and windows, and the former baptistery now serves as a weekday chapel. Protected as a monument since 2009, the church still brings together industrial-era growth, parish life, and layered architectural detail.
- City
- Antwerp
- Content updated
Image: Torsade de PointesPublic domain
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