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Antwerpen - St. Antonius van Paduakerk

City: Antwerp is the largest populated city in Belgium. There are approximately 472,071 inhabitants (2008). In addition to its reputation as a port, fashion centre and diamond producer Antwerp is also a religious centre. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antwerp and the Anglican Arch Diocese of Northwest Europe. In addition 20,000 Orthodox Jews reside here. Many of them belong to the strict Orthodox Chareidi Judaism which makes Antwerp, second only to London, the largest centre of Haredi Jews in Europe. Roman Catholicism is the religion of the majority.

Building: St. Antonius van Paduakerk (St. Anthony of Padua Church). The St. Anthony Church can be found on the Paardenmarkt. This church was built by Jules Bilmeyer according to the plans of architect Louis Baeckelmans. In earlier days there was a Capuchin church here, built in 1613. The church was demolished and St Anthony's was built on the site in 1910. The style of the building is neo-Gothic.

Object: in the church there are three beautiful decorated plaques. We think that these are commemorative plaques because on the bottom plate is written ‘obiit’ or deceased, with a date. On the middle plaque,at the top, is the name of God.

 

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