Restoration of The English Church of Ostend.
Like so many Churches the Ostend Church shows its age. The building is over 140 years old and is in need of major repairs. Together with the architects it will be our challenge to have those much needed repairs executed so that the building will suit the demands of future generations.
Restorations always carry some reservations as to how and to which extend it should be done. Baring in mind the exhaustive investments and requirements for future use it makes sense to look at a broader perspective by doing some research keeping in mind the purpose of the building and the demands of future worship.
Not much is known of Felix Laureys' (the building's architect) original intention or purpose when building this Church. Some thoughts may help to get an insight into his mind.
How often does it happen when you enter an old building, be it for a short visit or to relax and allow thoughts to bubble up, you encounter and experience all kinds of reminiscences, to discover hints of a past you know that was there but is safely hidden in history’s embrace? In old buildings, well not necessarily that old, you become aware of a silent and yet often visible presence of human creative activity, of cultural engagement, artistic mastery and social involvement. Of societies and congregations which gave substance and meaning to such buildings or monuments like our Church.
Monument. In it we can distinct the Latin word ‘Monere’ meaning to remember. A monument, through its physical and spiritual content tells us of a fascinating past, of events never to forget. We are compelled to remember, to connect to a past which is not only worth remembering but indispensable as part of our collective and personal development. A monument, an image, statue or object we look at or use on a daily base acquires a certain worth and substance. Many objects become symbols and tell us of events that are uncovered bit by bit whereby the past is being translated in visible behaviour.
Although the importance of artefacts, objects and symbols are often trivialized and easily taken for granted it is worth while to have a closer look at a few objects in our Church to discover how the past evolved into the present, how history expresses itself through continuance, remembering and memories.
Where as, when some visitors entering our Church may fail to discover items of interest, the first object which arouses curiosity is the Church itself. The obvious architectural expectation for what a Church should look like is immediately quashed. The red colour (not original) of the Church’s façade takes one by surprise. In all, the Church’s architecture is a simple, uncomplicated Neo-Gothic style like ‘Monument’ built by the Architect ‘Felix Laureys.
This simplicity can deceive our senses or the way we let our feelings and thoughts meander into our surroundings, through every molecule of air into the building and eventually into a relationship with God. An architecturally intricate building, an overabundance of decorations and objects can take over our being and become a substitute for our senses and feelings.
A couple of thoughts come to mind. What was Felix Laureys’ purpose when planning this Church? What is then, if there is, the symbolism of the monument and why should we remember? Well yes; we come here to worship God, to pray and be part of a Sunday service. Sounds like bit of a routine doesn’t it?
How different it becomes when we enter this monument in the knowledge that the architect may have planned the Church to become an expression of simplicity, emptiness, directness! Is this symbolism? I think so. But it enabled members of congregations, if they chose so, to worship in simplicity, at times fully aware of that emptiness from within and to address God directly without venturing on a roundabout.