Church of St. Gilles, Protected heritage site church in Saint-Gilles, Belgium

The Church of St. Gilles is an eclectic basilica-plan building of 1868, its light beige stone facade centred on a round-arched portal with layered mouldings and an inner band of carved masks; a semicircular relief panel above the door shows robed figures and animals. Inside, pale stone pointed ribbed vaults rise over clustered columns, with stained-glass windows and a black-and-white zigzag tiled aisle leading to a curved apse. The nave, transept and choir apse stand one level higher than the side aisles and chapels.

A first church, authorised in 1216 by Duke Henry I of Brabant when Obbrussel became a parish, was destroyed by villagers in 1578 to keep it from besieging Spanish troops. Its successor, begun in 1595, was damaged in the 1695 bombardment and only roofed in 1756. Population growth led to demolition in 1868; Victor Besme's replacement, with the choir turned west toward the rue du Fort, was consecrated on 12 April 1880.

The parish is the third place of worship for the local Catholic community, replacing a church demolished in 1868. The 1879 choir windows were donated by the Berckmans family and show their patron saints: Gilles, Barbara and Francis de Sales on the left, Joseph, Elizabeth and John the Baptist on the right. Two further apse windows given by the same family depict the twelve apostles.

The church stands on the Parvis de Saint-Gilles, served by the premetro station of the same name. Victor Besme turned the choir to the west and moved it nearer the rue du Fort, so the entrance faces the square rather than the street behind. The nave holds four bays of three aisles, with the central vessel, transept and apse one level higher than the side aisles and chapels.

The 1879 choir windows were donated by the Berckmans family; the central apse window shows their patron saints, with Saint Gilles, Saint Barbara and Saint Francis de Sales on the left and Saint Joseph, Saint Elizabeth and John the Baptist on the right. Two further apse windows given by the same family depict the twelve apostles.