St Martin’s Church

There was already a church in ‘Ackerghem’ in the 10th century. It was a very rural area at the time, just outside Ghent’s city walls. Founded in the year 941, the church was consecrated in 942 by Bishop Transmarus from the diocese of Noyon-Tournai. This church, under the patronage of St Bavo's Abbey, was the first parish church outside the city walls, making it one of the oldest parish churches in Ghent. It is dedicated to St Martin, Bishop of Tours, and reflects his mission and evangelism in the countryside.

Today this rural landscape has completely disappeared, and the western façade of St Martin’s Church looks out over the busy Ghent ring road, on the site of the former city walls. Its location on ‘Einde Were’, meaning the outermost edge of a defensive wall, still makes an etymological reference to its original surroundings.

Throughout its long history, St Martin’s Church has preserved its status as an important historical and cultural monument. Despite undergoing significant modifications in the Neo-Gothic period, much of its Baroque interior has been conserved, such as the Baroque architectural ornamentation of the choir, a unique baptistry and the seven 17th-century portico altars, featuring important works by painters such as Gaspard de Crayer (1584-1669) and François Pilsen (1700-1786).

The church has been a protected monument since 13 October 1943.

In one word: cultural and historical

History of a church

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Monday until Friday :  van 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

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