Saint Lambert

On the south side of the church stands a fine late-Gothic door (late 16th c.) with chamfered jambs, prismatic bases and a lintel adorned with a finial and a blank escutcheon. Above it, a large panel displays the coat of arms of the Princes of Ligne, lords of Barbençon. Faint Gothic lettering still reveals the motto “Tant que dure”. The date 1666 refers to embellishment work carried out in the 17th century under Prince Albert.

The southern side altar (late 17th - early 18th century) is a fine example of pure Baroque style: a red and gray marble table, a marbled wooden altarpiece, twisted columns adorned with foliage, vine motifs, angels, and cherubs, all topped by a statue of Saint Lambert, to whom the church is dedicated. Saint Lambert also appears in the large stained glass window on the right and in the niche on the left. On the altar itself, there is a striking polychrome wooden statue of Saint Joseph holding the Child.

In the northern side altar, a beautiful statue of the Virgin and Child symbolizes the deep devotion of the people of Barbençon to Our Lady of Lights. Every year, on August 15, a procession carries the statue back to the chapel dedicated to her on the village heights, accompanied by music and a military escort. The statue’s return to the church, to the sound of drums and fifes, remains a highly emotional moment.

Numerous funerary slabs decorate the columns, walls and floor of the church. There are references to the lords of Barbençon, their servants and the parish priests. In the chancel of the church, the marble baptismal font and the niches dedicated to the saints formerly venerated by the villagers are particularly noteworthy. There's plenty of marble to go around.

Designed in the Louis XV style, this grand altarpiece is made of white and gray marbled wood. It features elegant columns with gilded capitals and a canopy sheltering a statue of God the Father surrounded by golden rays. At its center, a large painting of unknown origin depicts Christ’s Ascension. The high altar is likely less radiant today than it was when built between 1740 and 1760, which is why restoration efforts are currently underway.

Marie Poschet, who passed away in 1767, belonged to a wealthy family of ironmasters in the region. She married a local minor noble, Mr. de Colnet, a master glassmaker. The beautiful funerary monument marking her tomb showcases the craftsmanship of the region’s marble workers. Several details also reflect the era’s perception of death. The stele still bears the scars of damage inflicted during the French Revolution, as Barbençon was still under French rule in 1789.