Appelterre / Apeltren / Apeltres / Appelteyren / Aptres / Aupelster
INFORMATION
Font ID: 25983APP
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Date: n.d.
Font Century and Period/Style: 15th century (?), Gothic?
Church / Chapel Name: Sint-Gertrudiskerk Appelterre
Font Location in Church: reported in the church between 1674 and 1730; later disappeared
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Gertrude of Nivelles [aka Gertraud, Gertraudt, Gertrude, Gertrudis]
Church Address: Joann.-Bapt.Van Langenhaeckestr., Appelterre-Dorp, 9400 Ninove, Belgium -- Tel.: +32 497 84 74 31
Site Location: Oost-Vlaanderen / Flandre Est, Vlaanderen / Flandres, Belgium, Europe
Directions to Site: Located off (E) the N45 [aka Tabaksla an], in the municiplaity and 4-5 km W of Ninove, 25-30 km W of Brussels, about 30 km SE of Ghent
Ecclesiastic Region: Bisdom Gent
Additional Comments: disappeared font -- price of a font (In 1757[cf. FontNotes]) ***IMAGES RECEIVED -- TO BE LOADED AND ENTERED IN IMAGE SUBFORM***
Font Notes:
Click to view
The mid-18th century baptismal font in use in this church is listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/17153] [accessed 28 November 2025]. An earlier font of stone with a metal batismal dish was reported in use between 1674 and 1730 but was probably discarded(?) when a new font (the present one) was acquired in 1757 [cf. infra].
A communication from Pol Herman (e-mail of 27 November 2025] informs: "The parish church of Appelterre can be traced back to a donation from the Abbey of Nivelles around 1487. It was a Gothic church from the 15th and 16th centuries with a heavy tower. In 1909, this church was completely renovated in the Neo-Gothic style. Baptismal registers start from 1623. An old stone baptismal font with a copper basin is mentioned in the decanal reports of 1674, 1719, and 1730. No trace of this older font. In 1757, a new marble baptismal font was purchased for 52 guilders and 10 stuivers."
A communication from Pol Herman (e-mail of 27 November 2025] informs: "The parish church of Appelterre can be traced back to a donation from the Abbey of Nivelles around 1487. It was a Gothic church from the 15th and 16th centuries with a heavy tower. In 1909, this church was completely renovated in the Neo-Gothic style. Baptismal registers start from 1623. An old stone baptismal font with a copper basin is mentioned in the decanal reports of 1674, 1719, and 1730. No trace of this older font. In 1757, a new marble baptismal font was purchased for 52 guilders and 10 stuivers."
Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Pol Herman for bringing this site to our attention and for his help documenting it.
COORDINATES
UTM: 31U 568068 5630142
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 50.818994, 3.966309
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 50° 49′ 8.38″ N, 3° 57′ 58.71″ E
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material: stone