Heilig-Hartkerk, Sacred Heart Church in Roeselare, Belgium
The Heilig-Hartkerk is a parish church in Roeselare, Belgium, built with yellow brickwork highlighted by pale stone trim around doors and windows, plus a square tower on the west side and an octagonal baptistery nearby. Inside, the walls carry geometric patterns, the choir floor is laid with marble panels, and side chapels receive daylight through coloured glass that avoids human or narrative images.
Construction started in 1932 after the parish of Saint Michael split to provide worship space for neighbourhoods that grew quickly when the city expanded after the First World War. Major repairs took place during the 1980s to address wear, and the tower was repaired again in the late 1990s to fix damage from weather and age.
The church takes its name from a form of Catholic devotion popular in the early 20th century and reflects the working-class roots of this part of town. Parishioners gather for Mass in a space that feels open and modest, with simple altars and contemporary glass that lets in soft coloured light without depicting saints or biblical scenes.
The church stands on Hippoliet Spilleboutdreef 13 in the southeastern part of Roeselare and is easy to reach by local roads. Visitors enter through the main door on the west side, services take place regularly, and the building is usually open in the morning or early afternoon for individual visits.
The roof combines broken arch supports made of reinforced concrete with an angled barrel vault that rests directly on brick pillars instead of traditional columns. This construction method was modern in the 1930s and allowed a large open interior without extra supporting walls or visible wooden beams.
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