Avennes

Baptismal font dated 1609 by an inscription, listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/10002308] [accessed 11 March 2026]: "fonts baptismaux [...] tête humaine[ornement] [...] datation, gravé, : : cy at fait fair tiri de hosden 1609 [...] hauteur: 96 cm".
A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 4 November 2025) informs: "Avennes, église Saint-Martin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz0lOdbpJ48 L'église d'Avennes - Braives - Histoire de Hesbaye. Almost nothing seems to be known about the history of Avennes. The church in this small village is important for the knowledge of Romanesque architecture in the area. Several objects have been preserved that showcase links to Mosan Romanesque architecture. The original Romanesque church was built in Rhinelandic style, and its design seems to have been inspired by churches that date from the same period : Saint-Hadelin at Celles-lez-Dinant, Notre-Dame at Hastière-par-Delà, Saint-Jacques et Sainte-Croix at Liège, Notre-Dame at Tongeren and Saints-Pierre-et-Paul of the former Cluniac priory at Saint-Séverin-en-Condroz. The stylistic similarities in the architecture and sculpture suggest that the choir of Saint-Martin at Avennes was built between 1140 and 1170, or even more boldly, between 1145 and 1165. Significant alterations were made in the 18th century. However, the choir, the nave pillars, and the tower's foundations still dated from the Romanesque period. At the end of the 19th century, the rural village of Avennes faced considerable population growth, so much so that the church of Saint-Martin, perched on a narrow promontory in the heart of the village, had to compromise on its modest size to meet local religious needs. Indeed, as a result, in winter church goers were exposed to wind, rain, cold, and frost, and in summer they bathed in sunshine, a large number of people being forced to remain outdoors. This situation was not only unpleasant but also highly detrimental to religious interests and potentially morally dangerous. Furthermore, those who filled the cramped building felt uncomfortable, and religious ceremonies that required taking place inside the church—even simple blessings of the faithful—were virtually impossible. See drawing of 1747. Between 1899 and 1911, this modest Romanesque parish church was drastically restored by architects, an operation that entailed the complete reconstruction of the building in Neo-Romanesque style. Fortunately, some original elements were reintegrated. Several sculptures have been compared to the Mosan baptismal fonts of the 12th century (Furnaux, Fairon, Ohey, Beauvechain, Dave, Huy, Soulme, Sclayn, Achêne, Asselt, Bastogne, Gentinnes, Hour). The limestone, octagonal, Mosan baptismal font with 4 heads has the date 1609 inscribed on its basin, and bears the name of the donor : cy at fait fair tiri de hosden. This nearby village of Hosden(t) disappeared during the French revolution. https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/10002308"