Sint-Michiel en -Renildiskerk

Sint-Michiel en -Renildiskerk is a Roman Catholic church standing in the Egenhoven district of Heverlee, a locality belonging to the city of Leuven in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium. The building sits at Sint-Reneldisplein 23, in a quiet residential area on the edge of Leuven, not far from the university complexes the city is famous for.

What does the church look like?

The church was built in 1969 to a design by architect Rudi Bertels. It represents brutalism, a style closely associated with post-war religious architecture across Western Europe — raw concrete surfaces, simple geometric massing, and minimal exterior ornamentation. In terms of interior layout, it is a hall church, meaning the central nave and side aisles rise to roughly the same height, giving the interior the feel of a single open space rather than one dominated by a taller central nave.

Where does the double dedication come from?

The church's name combines two patrons: the Archangel Michael and Saint Renildis (also known as Reneldis), a local saint venerated in the Brabant region. This double dedication reflects an older religious tradition tied to this location, one that reaches back to a former chapel that no longer stands and was demolished before the current church was built.

What historic objects survive inside?

Despite the building's modern, post-war shell, its interior holds considerably older sacred objects. Inside stands a statue of Saint Renildis dating from around 1500, along with a crucifix from the early 16th century. Both pieces come from the old, demolished chapel that once stood in the area — their presence inside a brutalist church creates an unusual pairing of mid-20th-century architecture with sacred art that predates it by roughly four and a half centuries.

What is happening at the church today?

Like many parishes across Belgium, Sint-Michiel en Renildiskerk faced declining congregation numbers and a shrinking number of clergy. When the church risked closure once its last resident priest retired, an alternative was found to keep it open. Since 2011, the building has served as the home base of the Belgian branch of Radio Maria, a Catholic radio broadcaster active in numerous European countries. Radio Maria uses part of the premises for recording studios and offices, while the church retains its religious function — sparing the building the fate of many other churches in the region that were repurposed for secular use or left vacant after closure.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? At Sint-Reneldisplein 23 in the Egenhoven district, in Heverlee, part of the city of Leuven.

Who was Saint Renildis? A local saint venerated in the Brabant region, whose veneration at this site predates the current building — commemorated by a 16th-century statue preserved inside.

Is the church still used for religious purposes? Yes. Although part of the building has housed the Belgian branch of Radio Maria since 2011, the church has kept its original religious function.

Is the architecture worth a look? Yes — it is one of the more notable examples of brutalist church architecture in the Leuven area, designed by Rudi Bertels in 1969.