In 1244 a humble chapel stood here. It housed a statue of the Virgin Mary. This was the original Notre-Dame des Grâces. Or rather its ancestor.
The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw der Genadekerk you see before you is not that chapel. That first chapel was modest. It stood outside Brussels’ city walls. It was known as ‘Our Lady with Birdsong’. The name is evocative. It reflects the chapel’s peaceful setting. A small wood bordered the Senne River nearby. Numerous birds nested in the trees.
As Brussels grew the chapel found itself within the city. Near where the Brussels Stock Exchange now stands. It survived various disasters. In 1862 it moved to a place of honor within the Franciscan monastery. This was on Artesiestraat. A different location entirely.
However the Franciscan friars moved again in 1934. They established a new monastery in the burgeoning Saint-Pierre neighborhood of Woluwe. There they built a new church. This is the magnificent Notre-Dame des Grâces you see today. Its construction was completed in 1949. Cardinal Jozef Van Roey consecrated it on July 2nd of that year.
This church is a stunning example of Neo-Romanesque architecture. It features a bell tower. It has a long nave with three aisles. Fifteen bays rise in a basilica-like manner. The nave and choir are topped with a complex gable roof. Three side chapels adorn each side of the church. The monastery is attached. The entire complex is substantial. It forms an impressive sight.
The church’s interior is equally impressive. Note the twenty-eight columns. Their capitals are all different. They depict scenes from the life of Mary. They also represent scenes from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. They even show symbolic representations of Christian sacraments. These are the works of Gaston and Michel Annaert. Masterful artisans indeed.
The church’s organ is revolutionary in its design. Created by Jean Guillou and built by Detlef Kleuker. Its case was designed by Jean Marol. It recalls the neighborhood name. It depicts two birds in courtship. The organ boasts around 4000 pipes. These pipes are distributed across forty-five stops on four manuals. There’s also a thirty-two-note pedal board. A truly exceptional instrument.
Take a moment to admire the stained glass windows. These were crafted between 1961 and 1967. Simon Steger and Fernand Crickx created these beautiful works. They flood the church with colorful light.
This Notre-Dame des Grâces is more than a building. It’s a testament to faith. It’s a symbol of perseverance. It’s a significant part of Brussels’ history and heritage. A history stretching back centuries. It carries the spirit of Our Lady with Birdsong. This church continues its sacred mission in this beautiful neighborhood. A place of worship and community.