Sint-Margaretakerk

Sint-Margaretakerk is the parish church of Sint-Margriete, a village belonging to the municipality of Sint-Laureins in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, close to the Dutch border. Dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch, the building standing today is already the fifth church erected for this community over the centuries.

Why has this site seen five churches?

The story of the parish is inseparable from the water that surrounds it. Sint-Margriete lies in the low-lying delta of the Westerschelde, where recurring floods repeatedly destroyed earlier places of worship over the centuries.

The first, modest church stood near what is now the Dutch island known as Eiland and vanished during the great floods of 1375–1376. After the land was re-poldered, a second church was built, only to disappear again during the so-called St. Elizabeth flood of 1404. It was not until 1462, when Jan De Plaat re-diked the Sint-Kruispolder, that a third church could be raised; the building from 1470 lasted until 1570. A fourth church was then erected in 1672 by the Ghent Abbey of Saint Bavo, following prolonged resistance and disputes with the States General of the United Provinces that were only resolved with a final border settlement.

What does the current building look like?

The church visitors see today dates from 1881–1882, built to plans drawn up in 1877 by the Ghent architect Edmond de Perre-Montigny. Its design reflects the sacred architecture typical of late 19th-century Flemish villages.

Inside, a neo-Gothic high altar from 1898 stands out, topped by a retable depicting the martyrdom of Saint Margaret, the church's patron. This scene gives the interior a solemn, devotional focal point and keeps the story of the village's patron saint visibly present for every visitor.

What survives from the earlier churches?

Despite the turbulent history of repeated destruction, a number of valuable pieces from previous church buildings have been preserved. Among them is a Gothic baptismal font basin, along with several paintings that decorate the interior. Particularly notable is the statue of Saint Margaret from 1750, carved by the Bruges sculptor Pieter van Walleghem — a work that outlasted the succession of buildings and today stands as a link to centuries of devotion in this small border village.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the church in Sint-Margriete dedicated to? The church is dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch, whose name also gave the village its own.

Why has this location had five different churches? The area sits in the low-lying Westerschelde delta, where successive floods — including those of 1375–1376 and the St. Elizabeth flood of 1404 — repeatedly destroyed earlier churches, forcing the community to rebuild.

When was the current church built? The present building was constructed in 1881–1882, based on a design by Ghent architect Edmond de Perre-Montigny.

What is worth seeing inside? Highlights include the neo-Gothic high altar of 1898 with its retable of Saint Margaret's martyrdom, a Gothic baptismal font basin, and an 18th-century statue of the patron saint by Pieter van Walleghem.

Where exactly is Sint-Margriete located? Sint-Margriete is a village within the municipality of Sint-Laureins, in the province of East Flanders, right on the border with the Netherlands.