On that day in Pamel the churchwardens ("kerkfabriek") decided to significantly raise the church tower and steeple. The tower appeared too low as compared to the high roofs of nave and transept. That decision was the beginning of the end for the location of the age old parish church near to the Dender river. The castle which stood close to the church had disappeared a long time before.
The tower was raised, but the foundations did not bear the additional weight for a long time.
On Sunday night, March 9 1879, the tower collapsed and part of the church roof disappeared in the fall. The collapse could be heard miles away.
The tower was raised, but the foundations did not bear the additional weight for a long time.
On Sunday night, March 9 1879, the tower collapsed and part of the church roof disappeared in the fall. The collapse could be heard miles away.
A detailed and graphic description is to be found in "100 jaar Sint-Gaugericuskerk te Pamel (1903 - 2003)" by Herman Van Herreweghen en medewerkers.
It was decided not to repair the church - a new one was built in the middle of the fields some distance away and was the start of a new center for the village in a totally different location. Such a move has happened elsewhere, but it doesn't happen often.
The house of my great-grandfather Felix De Vidts stood close to the old church, but my grandmother Maria Antonia only knew the half collapsed building : she was born in 1885.
The old graveyard is all that remains of the old parish church, and the old center is now a very quiet neighborhood.
It was decided not to repair the church - a new one was built in the middle of the fields some distance away and was the start of a new center for the village in a totally different location. Such a move has happened elsewhere, but it doesn't happen often.
The house of my great-grandfather Felix De Vidts stood close to the old church, but my grandmother Maria Antonia only knew the half collapsed building : she was born in 1885.
The old graveyard is all that remains of the old parish church, and the old center is now a very quiet neighborhood.
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