Saint Catherine’s church

The Gothic Church of Saint Catherine was built in the 14th century sporting a modest look. Though this is down to the location of the church in the poorer areas of Mechelen. The church did not escape the troubles between Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century and was heavily damaged. So it was thoroughly refurbished during the 18th century,  at which time its sober interiors were richly decorated. At the end of the 19th century, however, the original Gothic character of the church was restored by architects Frans Baeckelmans and Philippe Van Boxmeer. The church was dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria who, according to legend, refused to renounce her faith and was convicted to the breaking wheel and then, when that miraculously failed, decapitated. But that made milk rather than blood flow from her neck. Which then saved the city from the plague.

The pulpit by Pieter Valckx immediately catches the eye of visitors entering Saint Catherine's Church. This enormous oak piece of church furniture was made in 1774 after a design by Valckx’s master Theodoor Verhaegen. It depicted the Holy Family sheltering among the ruins of the Temple. The straw of the hut they are sheltering in looks almost real! Christ is sitting on a globe and holding a cross under His arm as Mary and Joseph protect Him. Above, angels are flying about among the canopy and clouds.