St. Stefanus, Ghent, Catholic parish church in central Ghent, Belgium
St. Stephanus is a Catholic parish church in Ghent that combines 19th-century architecture with elements from a former Carmelite church built into its structure. The building shows how these different historical layers are visible in both its exterior form and interior design.
A fire destroyed the original monastery in 1838, leading architect Jean Baptiste De Baets to design the current building. It was consecrated on December 26, 1841, marking a fresh start for this location.
The church displays artistic works including sculptures by Brother Prosper Venneman and altars created by Gaspar de Crayer in the 1600s. These pieces shape how the interior feels and reflect the artistic heritage visitors encounter inside.
The church is located on Sint-Margrietstraat and functions as both a religious center and performance space, especially for organ music. Visitors can enjoy regular musical performances that take advantage of the space's acoustic qualities.
The building holds two distinct organs: a Philippe Forrest instrument from 1873 and a 1962 Flentrop organ brought from a Baptist church in Enschede. This unusual pairing of instruments from different sources and periods shapes the musical life of the space.
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