Bachte / Bachte nr. Astene / Bachte-Maria-Leerne / Bathio sive Asnoth

Baptismal font listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/67935] [accessed 7 January 2026]: "doopvont [...] Date: 1501 - 1600 [...] hoogte: 120 cm [...] koperslager: 1701 - 1800". The font consists of an octagonal basin with moulded sides, raised on a slender pedestal base of the same shape, and an octagonal-to-square lower base. Font cover made of metal in the 18th century, decorated with moulded sides and orb-and-cross finial.
A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 7 January 2026) provides information on the church and font: "Due to its proximity to Ooidonk Castle, the village shared in all the misery caused by the recurring military operations in the region. In 1578, the Protestant authorities ordered the plundering of churches near Ghent. In the seventeenth century, the ongoing conflicts with French troops led to the depopulation of the region. The church was plundered by French troops in 1696. Only under the reign of Maria Theresia, which began in 1740, could normal life be restored. By 1722, the church was in very poor condition and required thorough restoration. Between 1813 and 1898, Bachte was not a parish. The church was assigned to the parish of Deinze and was served by the teachers of the episcopal college of that city. In 1867, it was reported that the copper (!!!) baptismal font was out of use. From 1900 to 1902, the church was enlarged, during which the Romanesque west façade was demolished. Baptismal registers from 1621 to 1666. The baptismal font (which was not purchased new, but second-hand) was solemnly consecrated on Easter 1671. The octagonal, gothic, limestone font seems to combine conflicting style elements. The base is Mosan and therefore does not geographical fit into the distribution area of such fonts. The dimensions of the late-gothic basin could suggest that it was originally a stoup. The dating is still a question to me. The Bachte font (KIK-IRPA 16ht c) is very similar to the font at nearby Grammene (KIK-IRPA 15th c, https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/69199). My hypothesis : both are products made in the last half of the 16th century."