St. James' Church, Antwerp

St. James' Church, interior

From 1431 on, even before the church was built, the chapel on this site was a stop on the route to the burial place of Saint James the Great in Santiago de Compostela. In 1476 the chapel became a parish church so plans were made to replace the modest building with a large church. Fifteen years later, in 1491, construction of the late Gothic church started. It was not completed until 1656, when Baroque architecture was in vogue. Fortunately throughout all those years the architects closely followed the original Gothic design, hence the consistent Gothic exterior. The interior, however, is decorated in Baroque style.

The plans at the start of the construction, in a time when Antwerp was on its way to becoming one of the most important economic hubs in Europe, were very ambitious. The church was to feature just one tower, but this was to be about 150 m (490 ft) tall, well above the 123 m (404 ft) of the two planned towers of Antwerp Cathedral.

Unfortunately, due to the decline of the city from the mid-16th century on, financial problems eventually caused construction to be halted after the tower had reached just one third of its planned height.

Although the original interior was destroyed during the iconoclastic storms of 1566 and 1581, the Baroque 17th-century interior is well preserved thanks to a priest who pledged allegiance to the French revolutionaries, who had just invaded the city. In return, he was rewarded by being permitted to choose one church in Antwerp which would not be plundered, and chose St. James', thus saving the interior. Many of the original stained-glass windows were unfortunately destroyed during World War II.

Among the Baroque interior decorations are the carved wooden choir stalls, created between 1658 and 1670, the opulent main altar (1685) and the communion rails of the holy chapel (1695). The central pulpit was created in 1675 by Lodewijk Willemsens.

The erection of the Cross by Michiel van der Voort the Elder

• Rubens married on 6 December 1630 in Saint James to Hélène Fourment.[2]
• Cardinal Danneels was consecrated in this church by Cardinal Leo Joseph Suenens in 1977.

Gisant of Francisco Marcos de Velasco, died 1693, sculpted by Pieter Scheemaeckers

The old organ has a rich history: it was played by many famous people, among them Henry Bredemers. The Choir organ, built by J.B. Forceville in 1727, is also original, including the still functioning mechanical action. The hew grand organ was built in 1884 by Anneesens, in Romantic style.

In the 16th, 17th and 18th century St. James' Church was the parish church of Antwerp's prominent citizens, several of whom built private burial chapels in the church. In the church numerous important gravestones are still inside, most belonging to the nobility. There are more than 1300 graves inside the church, and dates of burials of more than 4500 persons. Some graves are of very high quality, famous is the grave of Francisco Marcos de Velasco made by Pieter Scheemaeckers,[3] Ludovicus van Anthoine made by Willem Ignatius Kerricx[4] and Henrica Carolina Adriana Josepha van Cornelissen and Eugenia Catherina van Ertborn both sculpted in marble by Guillaume Geefs.[5] The most famous is that of Antwerp's renowned painter Peter Paul Rubens, completed five years after his death in 1640. The painting above Rubens' tomb is by the master himself.

Rubens family

• Peter Paul Rubens and Helena Fourment.
• Daniel Fourment, died 1643: marr. Clara Stappaert: father in law of Peter Paul Rubens.

Epitaph of Florentinus Josephus van Ertborn, painting by Guido Reni

• François I , son of Peter Paul Rubens: alderman of Antwerp in 1659, marr. Suzanne Charles.
• Alexander Josephus Rubens, Grandson of Peter Paul Rubens. Marr. Catherina Philippine de Parys, Philip Constant de Parys, Alexander Jacob de Parys, Joannes Bapt. de Parys, Isabella Alexandrine de Parys, Frans Frederic, Count of Respani.
• Albert I Rubens, son of Peter Paul Rubens, marr. Clara del Monte.[6]
• Clara IV Joanna, lady of Merksem, daughter of Peter Paul Rubens. Marr. Philip Constant de Parys, Catharina Franscica Rubens
• Nicolas Piqueri, died 1661: Almoner of Antwerp, marr. in 1627 to Elisabeth Fourment.
• Ghisbert van Colen, marr. Mary Fourment, niece of Helena.
• Emmanuel van Hoorebeeck, Son of Henry and Joanne Fourment.
• Ferdinand Helman, (1550–1617): father in law of Nicolaas Rubens, Lord of Rameyen. marr. Catharine vander Veken.

General

St. Charles cares for the plague victims of Milan, by Jacob Jordaens

Artist

• Jan Boeckhorst, Painter.
• Godfried Maes, died 1679: marr. Anna Eeckelmans.
• Cornelis Schut, died 1655: Marr. Catharine Geensins, and Anna Schut, Peter Guillaume Schut.
• Hendrick van Balen, died 1632: Marr. Margreta Briers, and Son Jan van Balen.
• Jan van Balen, died 1654. Marr. Joanne van Weerden.
• Justus van Egmont, painter.
• Artus Quellinus the Younger
• Hieronymus Wierix
• Arnoldus Hessius
• Mathias Joostens, 1767–1830: Composer, Marr. Catharine Stuyck.

Lord mayors of Antwerp

• Nicolaas I Rockox, uncle of Nicolaas II Rockox.
• Johannes Rockox, alderman of Antwerp.
• Jacob Dassa, son of Ferdinand and Barbara Rockox : knighted, Marr. Magdalena van Gammeren.
• John III Antony Tucher, knight: marr. Sussana de Cordes, died 1725. Both buried inside St-Anthonys chapel, Sculpted by Michiel van der Voort the Elder.[7]
  • his daughter: Maria Antonia Tucher, marr. don Juan Franscisco de Santa Cruz, Lord of Boortmeerbeek.
• Ambrosius Tucher, knight marr. Mary of Ursel.[8]
• Gaspard de Rovelasco, born 1540: marr. Elisabeth van Kestelt.
• the parents of Florent van Ertborn.
• Philippe Louis de Pret, father in law of Charles III Philippe van de Werve, 1st Count of Vorsselaer.
• Jan Roosen
• Jan van Weerden

Other

• Nicolaas III van de Werve, Lord of Giesenoudekercke: Married Magdalene of Halmale.
• Henry I van de Werve, married Lady van Cuyck.
• Isabelle Anne van de Werve, daughter of John IV van de Werve, 7th Lord of Hovorst, married John Baptiste della Faille, mayor of Antwerp.
• Joos Draeck, died 1528: son of Willem Draeck, Lord of Merksem, married Barbara Colibrant, gifted important window to the church.[9]
• Adriaan Rockox, marr. Isabella van Olmen, parents of Sir Nicolaas II Rockox.
• Adriana Rockox, marr. Lancelot II of Ursel.
• Claire Rockox, marr Jan van de Werve, sister of Sir Nicolaas II Rockox.
• Antonio de Castro y Lopez, died 1663
• Jacon de Miranda, died 1602
• Pedro de Lapena, marr. Maria de Espinosa.
• Cornelis Lantschot, Benef. of the poor.
• Jacobo Hernandes de Miranda, marr. Amantia de Robelledo.
• Daniel Gerardus Melyn, marr. Anna Maria de Lannoy
• Melchior Gijsbert Hendrik van Susteren, died 1741: Marr. Constance Barbou.
• Fernando de Montesinos, marr. Serafina de Almeida y Castro.
• Johan Damant, marr. Anne de Witte.
• Paul Wuyts, esq. marr. Jacqueline de Landas.
• Louis du Boisch, marr. Mary Anne of Hoorenbeeck.
• Arnold Martin du Boisch, marr. Mary Catherine Vecquemans.
• George Mendes de Andrada.
• Manuel Tuvares Ulloa and Franscisco Alvarez Tavarez Lopez de Ulloa.
• Manuel Soarez Ribeiro.
• Henry Geelhand, (1694–1776): marr. Hélène de Claessens (1698–1766).
• Eugenia Catharine van Ertborn, sculpted by Guillaume Geefs.
• François de Paule-Joseph van Ertborn, died 1807: Grand Almoner of Antwerp, marr. Joanna Jozef Louisa van de Werve.
• Henrica Carolina Adriana Josepha de Havre, born de Cornelissen), baroness of Havre, sculpted by Guillaume Geefs.
• Giacomo Antonio Carenna, (1591–1672): Almoner of Antwerp, built the Borromeo Chapel in 1656.
• Joannes Bollaert, marr. Susanne de San Estevan.
• Francisco Lopez Franco.
• Joannes van Weerden, Church master: Marr. Maria van Severdonck, sculpted by Sebastiaan Van den Eynde (1669–1675).
• Christoffel Cominetto, marr. Maria Heyndrickx
• Joanne de Cuellar, mar. Clara Pels
• Bartholomaeus Balbi, (1542–1593): consul of genovese, and Giovanni Agostino Balbi.
• Manuel Nuñez de Evora, marr. Justa Nuñes.
• Jacobus Matth. de Moor.
• Joan Fernand. Sant Vittores de la Poitilla, marr. Maria de Steelandt.
• Fernando de Palma Carillo.
• Antonio Lopez de San Paio.
• Luis de Quesada, marr. Clara de Ayala.
• Johann Jakob Schenk von Stauffenberg, died 1588.
• Gaspar Rovelasco

• Official website
• Media related to St. James' Church, Antwerp at Wikimedia Commons

51°13′12.75″N 4°24′38″E