Grand Marchin / Marchin-lez-Huy / Marchine / Marchinis / Marchins / Marchyn / Mårcin / Marcines / Marcins / Marcyn / Marsin / Marzine

Baptismal font listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/10117170] [accessed 1 April 2026]: "fonts baptismaux [...] pierre calcaire [...] Date: 1608 - 1608 [...] nscription, gravé, bord du couvercle: inscription de donation [...] hauteur des fonds [sic] : 114 cm
couvercle [laiton] offert par le curé M. Plompteux en 1845 [...] hauteur du couvercle : 40 cm".
A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 29 March 2026) informs: "Grand-Marchin, église Notre-Dame. 965 Marchinis, Marcines, 1222 Marcins, 1301 Marcyn, 1323 Marchins, 1510 Marzine, 1526 Marchyn, 1619 Marchine, 1633 Marsin, Marchin-lez-Huy. The first mention dates from 965, in the confirmation of the charter of the donation, two years earlier, of part of the domaines of Marchinis and Slies to the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin of Liège by its founder, Bishop Éracle of Liège. This chapter therefore became lord of the village. Lize (hamlet of Grand-Marchin) 965 Slies, Lise, Lies, Liers, Lierz, Lieres. A document from 1301 mentions an auxiliary chapel in Lies, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. No trace of this chapel. The other, larger part of the territory of Marchin belonged to the Count of Hainaut. Count Balduino sold it in 1098 to Willibert of Marchin (before going on the crusade), who donated it to the chapter of Notre-Dame of Huy in 1106. In 1222, Hugh of Pierrepont, bishop of Liège, also gave the church of Marchin to the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin of Liège. The nave of the Romanesque oratory was no wider than the current tower, the tower is the only remaining vestige of the Romanesque structure. Reconstruction in Gothic style took place between 1491 and 1510, incorporating the tower in the west. The lords of Marchin operated bluestone quarries in 1576, which remained in operation until the early 20th century. In 1693, the village was pillaged by French troops. In 1851, the church was heavily restored and enlarged. Baptismal records date from 1600 onwards. The year 1608 is inscribed on the limestone baptismal font. No historical information is linked to this date. The font has been resculpted around 1850 when the church was restored. This explains its pristine looks. The present appearance of the base and basin, and the decoration on the basin, are very unusual for Mosan fonts, and unique. I suspect that the original design of the 1608 font was been totally lost by the rework, probably done by a sculptor of the local quarries. Inscriptions : Maria, Ana, IHS (Jesus), ρΧЅ (Christos). An inscription on the brass lid mentions that it was donated by the vicar Plompteux in 1845. https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/10117170"

Pictures by Les Murs de Pierre.