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Saint Leonard
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Saint Leonard
Saint Leonard is a hall church constructed in regional Gothic style that consists of three naves and a striking brick spire decorated with peculiar ‘thorns’.
The present church dates mainly from 1923 when it was reconstructed by architect Jules Coomans after the demolishing First World War. The interior is neo-gothic and contains communion rails dating from 1923. The organ was made by Jules Anneessens in 1927. This organ-builder from Menen had a lot on his plate with Zuidschote. In 1909 he had played in a new organ for the church but it was destroyed in the war 1914-18. Then he built the present organ (1927) but it was damaged in May 1940 and repaired in 1944. The church underwent a total restauration in 1970.
The old church was built in 1483 with exception of the typical spire which was added in 1551. The present church lies in the middle of a cemetery surrounded by hedges, filled with British and French military graves. In the church two memorial tablets for the war are immured in the wall, in front of the aisle on the left, near the Maria-altar.
The village counts several other war monuments, such as the memorial for the victims of the First German gas attack that took place in Zuidschote in 1915.The monument is placed, together with the cross of reconciliation, on the road to Diksmuide. Nearby several bomb shelters were preserved. With some of the war rubble a Lourdes cave was built. The cave, rebuilt next to the ancient vicarage, is inaugurated on august the 15th 1924.
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Heritage tops Westhoek-Zuid
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