Beerlegem / Bardelingheym / Beirlegem / Berlengien (1177), Berlingenhem

Baptismal font listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/22275] [accessed 10 January 2026]; the entry gives the date "Date: 1791 - 1810" but Pol Herman contests the dating [cf. infra].
A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 9 January 2026) informs: "Berlengien (1177), Berlingenhem, Beirlegem, Bardelingheym. The discovery of a Merovingian cemetery in 1955 proves that Beerlegem was a Frankish settlement. A small church stood here as early as the 11th or 12th century. The patronage of the parish of Beerlegem belonged to the chapter of Sainte-Croix in Cambrai. The first mention of a priest (Arnulphus) and church was found in a cartulary of Ename Abbey and dates from March 1229. At an unknown date a late Gothic church was built. This church was damaged, among other things, during the iconoclastic fury in the second half of the 16th century. The restored church was reconsecrated in 1624. The wall anchors in the tower bear the year 1641, but the rest of the church dates from 1792-93. At that time, the original cruciform church with a thatched roof was replaced by this more solid construction. The tower is therefore the only original part that has been preserved. Baptismal registers from 1666 onwards. In 1610, the deacon complained that the font was made of copper (brass), and that he preferred lead. This concerns probably : https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/21692. Later, a limestone, baroque, Hainaut-type font must have been installed. The dating of KIK-IRPA seems wrong. According to the local historical society, the baptismal font dates from 1662, which is fully acceptable. https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/22275 -- P.S. Today, this church is empty. Not in use."