The Church of St Egidius intra muros is known locally as ‘Sint-Gillis-Binnen’. The name harks back to the Middle Ages: it meant that the church stood inside the town wall. All that remain of the medieval church are the tower and the old choir. In the eighteenth century it was outgrown by its congregation so a new nave with three aisles was built. The Neo-Baroque façade dates from the early twentieth century.
This church is a true gem with its bright interior, colourful stained glass windows and magnificent decorations. You will find it on Heldenplein, where a war memorial commemorates Dendermonde’s devastating losses.
Chapel of the Saint Giles Hospital
Around the middle point between the old Torrepoort and the new Brussels Gate, a new hospital was founded around 1214 by Mathilde I, dedicated to Saint Giles. Saint Egidius, the patron saint of this hospital, is venerated as the patron of livestock (September 1).
In 1223, the hospital was transformed into a Cistercian nunnery through the efforts of Mathilde I. However, the young abbey had to relocate soon after, as an abbey was required by the order’s statutes to be situated in a remote location. They then moved to Zwijvekekouter outside the city walls, but the parish seat was transferred in 1228 to the buildings of the former Saint Giles Hospital.
New 13th-Century Parish Church
Only a small part of the original Zwijveke parish lay within the city walls (Saint Giles-intra-muros), and residents outside the walls always had to pass through the city gates to attend services.
The chapel of the former Saint Giles Hospital soon became too small, so a new parish church was established in the immediate vicinity in the 13th century. During the religious troubles (1578), this church was set on fire. It was not until 1584 that it could be used again.
18th-Century Saint Egidius Church
Due to the rapidly growing population, the parish church became too small again in the following centuries. In 1779, the old church was demolished, except for the tower and the choir. The lower church was rebuilt in 1780–1781.
Since the second half of the 19th century, the church has undergone several restorations. In 1866, city architect Edouard Bouwens restored the tower, choir, and sacristy. It was not until 1912–1913 that the lower church was restored. Architect Valentin Vaerwijck then provided the church with a new Neo-Baroque façade, while retaining the 18th-century entrance. In the second half of the 20th century, the church was restored once again.
