Berzee / Beerseez / Berceis / Berezeis / Berzée / Berzeye / Bierses

Baptismal font of stone consisting of a late-16th century octagonal basin raised on a modern pedestal base; listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/10082317] [accessed 23 April 2026]:

A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 17 March 2026): "869 : Berezies, Berceis, 1497 Beerseez, 1558 Bierses. Seven hundred Roman-era tombs have been discovered in a field called Villées, likely an outbuilding of the nearby Roman villa of Rognée. Before 869, the village fell under the jurisdiction of the powerful Lobbes Abbey. The oldest remains of Berzée Castle date back to the 13th or 14th century. It was converted into a manor house in 1622. In the 13th century, the lordship was held as a fief from Thy-le-Château. The construction date of the original church is virtually impossible to determine. In 1225, Jean de Berzée donated property to Aulne Abbey, which in 1243 also acquired the patronage of the church and a part of the tithes. Half a century later, the remaining tithes had been transferred in the hands of Val-Saint-Georges Abbey, near Namur.
In 1243, a document from the cartularies of Aulne Abbey tells us that the abbey did not feel obligated to provide bells or ropes for the church of Berzée because of the incompetent priest (in fact, he had not been appointed by the bishopric). At the end of the 17th century, the Prince of Condé, to whom the villagers refused to pay tribute for their protection, had Berzée burned down. The village remained deserted for several years. The current church dates from the Gothic period and is built of limestone rubble. It was consecrated in 1584. The bell tower was completed in 1612. Remodeled in 1766, the building was completely restored in 1951. Baptismal records from 1669 onwards. Late 16th century, octagonal, limestone, gothic, Hainaut-type basin. Column and base added in 1951. https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/10082317"