Sint-Jozefkerk (Opwijk)

Sint-Jozefkerk is the parish church of Droeshout, a hamlet belonging to the municipality of Opwijk in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium. The church stands on Steenweg op Vilvoorde and is dedicated to Saint Joseph, patron saint of carpenters and manual workers — a fitting choice given the many small workshops and factories that once employed local residents in the surrounding area.

How did the church come to be built?

The building's history unfolds in two distinct stages. As a separate parish began taking shape in Droeshout toward the end of the 19th century, a place of worship was needed before a permanent church could be built. In 1894–1895, a temporary chapel went up according to a design by architect Jules Goethals, executed in a neogothic style. This chapel served as the parish church until 1911.

Once the parish had grown established and the number of worshippers had increased, work began on the definitive, brick-built church. Construction, again to designs by Jules Goethals, ran from 1909 to 1911, and the church was put into use in 1913. The result was a brick neogothic cross-shaped church with an adjoining tower.

What happened to the original chapel?

After the new church opened, the older 1894–1895 chapel did not disappear from Droeshout's landscape — it was simply repurposed. It went on to serve successively as a school building and a celebration hall, and since 1958 it has functioned as the parish hall. In this way, the building has remained a gathering place for the local community for well over a century, even though it stopped serving a liturgical purpose long ago.

Why is the church dedicated to Saint Joseph?

The choice of patron saint reflects the character of the area at the time the parish was founded. Saint Joseph, venerated as the protector of craftsmen and manual laborers, was a natural choice for a community in which many residents worked in nearby factories and workshops. The dedication was meant to underline the connection between the parish community and the everyday labor of its members.

What is notable about the architecture?

Both the original chapel and the definitive church were designed by the same architect, Jules Goethals, giving the two buildings a consistent neogothic character despite being built more than a decade apart. The main church stands out for its cross-shaped plan and adjoining tower, features typical of rural Catholic churches built in Belgium around the turn of the 20th century.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Sint-Jozefkerk located? The church stands in Droeshout, part of the municipality of Opwijk, on Steenweg op Vilvoorde.

When was the current church built? Construction took place from 1909 to 1911, and the church was put into use in 1913.

Was there an earlier church building? Yes, a temporary chapel was built in 1894–1895 and served as the place of worship until 1911, later functioning as a school, a celebration hall, and, since 1958, the parish hall.

Who designed the church? Both the chapel and the definitive church were designed by architect Jules Goethals.

Why is the church dedicated to Saint Joseph? Because of its ties to the local community of craftsmen and workers employed in nearby factories, for whom Saint Joseph is the patron saint.