Avin in Avin-in-Hesbaye

A communication to BSI from Pol herman (e-mail of 20 November 2025) narrates the story of Avin and Atrive, "two rivalling villages on whose territory there were several castles. Each village with an ancient church, only 700 metres apart. Both buildings were demolished (1804/1910). A common church arose in 1908. Avin(-en-Hesbaye), église Saint-Etienne (demolished around 1910) https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avin
The name Avent appears in the 11th century, then Aviens in a 13th-century charter, and then most commonly Avin. Avain was used in the 17th century. The first mention of the hamlet of Avin in the parish archives dates from 1021. It seems that there was a Saint-Etienne chapel then, which was a branch church of the parish of Ambrésinaux. Around 1602, the Valenciennes painter Adrien de Montigny painted the villages of Avin and Atrive (Aultrines and Haves) on commission from Duke Charles de Croÿ. It shows the simple old Saint-Etienne chapel in Avin: it consists of a short nave of two bays, with a flat chancel. It is flanked by another nave or side chapel. The whole structure is surmounted by a slate-roofed bell tower. To its left stands the residence of Jean Dauvin, Archdeacon and Vicar General of the Diocese of Namur, who would become Bishop of Namur in 1615. This is now the site of Avin Castle, also known as Looz-Corswarem Castle. To the right of the church, a little further on, stands the "castle and residence of the Lord of Warisoul" consisting of two tall, perpendicular wings under a slate roof, flanked by a pepperpot tower and pierced by numerous openings on the upper levels. This was the site of the former Diest Castle, which was
demolished in 1971. In 1612, the chapel became independent from the church of Ambresinaux and was elevated to a parish in its own right. At the same time, Avin and Atrive were ecclesiastically merged into a single parish dedicated to Saint Stephen. It is likely that Jean Dauvin played a significant role in the recognition of the parish of Avin. A new church was built during the priesthood (1740-1772) of Father Pierre Hebran, on the site of the old chapel, next to the castle, thanks to a fundraising campaign that collected a considerable sum of money. However, this amount was insufficient to build a tower. In 1756, the church of neighbouring Atrive was deconsecrated, and the liturgical objects and documents were transferred to the parish of Avin. In 1804, the church of Atrive was demolished, and the reused materials were sold. With this money, the church council of Avin had the tower built. The church was however demolished around 1910, after the construction of the new church in Atrive. Today, no trace remains of the old church, which was located on the present grounds of Avin Castle. Nothing is know of the font that stood in Avin."