Minderbroederskerk

In the heart of the picturesque Belgian city of Sint-Truiden stands the magnificent Minderbroederskerk, also known as the Church of Saint Francis Solanus. This splendid Baroque church, dedicated to Saint Francis Solanus, a Spanish Franciscan missionary venerated in South America, is an architectural gem that beckons visitors with its rich history and stunning design.

The History of Minderbroederskerk

The roots of Minderbroederskerk stretch back to the early 13th century when the Franciscan friars, known as Minderbroeders in Dutch, established themselves in Sint-Truiden around 1226, the year their founder, Saint Francis of Assisi, passed away. These friars, who were members of a mendicant order, supported themselves through alms and were actively involved in providing shelter for the homeless, nursing the sick, and firefighting.

Construction of the original monastery began around 1257, strategically located next to the city wall near the Clockempoort. By 1258, the first church, a Gothic structure, was completed. However, this early church was demolished in 1730 to make way for the current Baroque masterpiece, built between 1731 and 1735, possibly under the direction of Father Johannes Bolgrez, who was also involved in the construction of the city hall. In 1780, the church was lowered in height.

The arrival of the French in 1797 led to the dissolution of the monastery, and its assets were sold off. Nevertheless, the Franciscans managed to repurchase much of the inventory. The monastery reopened in 1830. During a bombing in 1940, the church and monastery suffered severe damage, losing the roof and some furnishings. Restoration efforts in the same year saw the church's vault raised to its original pre-1780 height.

In a significant turn of events, the Bishop of Hasselt decreed on March 17, 2019, that the church would be repurposed for secular, non-offensive use. Today, the city of Sint-Truiden is the new custodian of this historical treasure.

Exterior of the Church and Monastery

The Minderbroederskerk, partially oriented with its choir at the northeastern end, forms an integral part of the streetscape on Minderbroedersstraat. Measuring 74 meters in length, 16 meters in width, and 24 meters in height, the church boasts a spacious hall with a single nave of seven bays and an elongated, narrower choir of five bays ending in a three-sided apse. The sacristy is situated on the north side of the choir.

The church's exterior is a striking blend of red brick and Namur stone (Maaskalksteen) with marlstone corner bands. The gabled roof is covered with slate, and a roof turret with a bell tower sits above the choir. The Baroque pilastered façade, with its towering height and narrow width, creates a strong vertical impression, accentuated by tall pilasters. The third tier of the façade features a typical Baroque curvilinear gable with volutes and ornamental vases, crowned by a triangular pediment with sculptures, including a cross and flaming torches. The portal and windows in the façade have round arches, and a niche houses a statue of Saint Francis Solanus. The brick side walls are simple, interrupted only by flat pilasters and arched windows with stained glass.

The Minderbroedersklooster (Franciscan Monastery) extends between Minderbroedersplein, Minderbroedersstraat, Capucienessenstraat, and the city wall of Sint-Truiden. The complex comprises several wings surrounding two courtyards. Some recent buildings occupy the Capucienessenstraat and the site of the former infirmary. The monastery's façade on Minderbroedersstraat is nearly blind. After the 1940 bombing, only the ground floor of the buildings around the first courtyard survived, including the original cloister with broad pointed arch windows. The upper floors were rebuilt in an eclectic style post-1940. The buildings around the second courtyard are relatively recent, dating from 1836, 1907, and 1932.

The monastery garden was expanded in 1926 after the neighboring Visitation Sisters' convent was dissolved. The garden features an ancient beech tree and is bordered by the overgrown city wall, a sturdy brick wall with buttresses. A commemorative stone marks the heightening of the wall by the Franciscans in 1630.

Interior of the Church

The interior of Minderbroederskerk is a splendid example of Baroque architecture, adorned with rich decorations. The interior is entirely whitewashed. Between the windows, some of which feature stained glass, are medallions with Rococo-style stucco, depicting portraits of Franciscans. The pilasters have Corinthian capitals supporting arches with decorative stucco. The single-nave church is covered by ribbed vaults, while the apse has a semi-dome vault. Behind the choir is the 18th-century Portiuncula Chapel with a crypt housing the tomb of Father Victorinus (Jozef Delbrouck), a missionary who lived from 1870 to 1898.

Notable furnishings include the late Baroque side altars from 1735 and 1741, part of the church's original interior, and the main altar, rebuilt in a historicizing style after 1940, based on the original altar. The Portiuncula Chapel contains a gilded and marbled wooden altar in Louis XV style from 1735. The oak pulpit (circa 1776) and six oak confessionals (third quarter of the 18th century) are also in the same style.

Among the church's art treasures are a polychrome wooden statue of the Madonna from around 1480 and a Pietà from around 1600. The polychrome wooden statue of Saint Anthony dates from 1699. The fourteen white-painted statues of saints, including local saints Trudo and Godfried of Melveren, placed on pedestals against the pilasters, date from the late 19th century.

Museum De Mindere

Part of the Minderbroedersklooster houses the Museum De Mindere, formerly known as the Museum of the Flemish Franciscans. This museum offers insights into the life of Saint Francis and the history of the Franciscan order, showcasing religious heritage from several dissolved Franciscan monasteries in Flanders. The museum's collection includes paintings, sculptures, graphic works, liturgical vessels, vestments, items from monastic life, and a model of the Minderbroedersklooster in Sint-Truiden. The most remarkable piece in the collection is the drinking bowl of Saint Francis of Assisi, believed to have originated from the now-lost Franciscan monastery in Mechelen.

In conclusion, the Minderbroederskerk in Sint-Truiden is not just a church; it is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Franciscan order and a beacon of Baroque architectural splendor. Its walls echo with centuries of history, making it an unmissable destination for anyone visiting this charming Belgian city.