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This church was built in 1670 by the Jesuit community of Malines and was first dedicated to Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier. Since 1659, The community possessed an important relic, a small bone from the arm of Saint Francis Xavier, a Jesuit apostle in India, the Moluccan islands and Japan. With is arm he is said to have baptized thousands of people. The swelling stream of pilgrims necessitated a bigger church.

After the order of Jesuits was abolished in the 18th century, the church became the parish church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The interior and its valuable pieces of art remained almost intact and is the oldest remaining fully intact interior designed by the Jesuits.

The rich interior immediately draws our intention. The side walls are covered with enormous paintings. Richly sculpted confessionals stand all around the walls. The presbetary abounds with statues and decorations. The restoration of the interior was finished in 2015 and can now again be admired in its full glory. The paintings will be restored at a later date.

Together with seven other churches, the church of Saint Peter and Paul is managed by Torens aan de Dijle, a non-profit organisation and by the town of Malines.

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