Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church

West facade

Noble canoness of Mons

Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church is a Catholic church in Belgium, named in honour of Saint Waltrude of Mons. This old church is a protected monument.

History[]

The history of the church dates back to 1450, and the origin of the famous chapter of noble canonesses that seated for centuries inside this church. The chapter played an important part in the local history, all of the Canonesse were familymembers of important noble houses. Antoine-Joseph Fetis, titular organist, taught his eldest son François-Joseph the first steps of the practice of organ music.^[1]

Inside the church important graves can be found amongst them and Alice of Namur

Famous Canonesses[]

Their statutes, approved by the Empress, required the canonesses to prove their noble status.^[2]

• Isabel, sister of Katherine Swynford
• Eléonore-Jeanne de Mérode^[3]
• Marie-Magdelaine de Gavre^[4]
• Anne de Noyelles^[5]
• Anne Charlotte de Lorraine, Secular Abbess of the chapter in 1754 by imperial request of Empress Maria-Theresia

Architecture[]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

East side

The exterior of the church is a fine example of Brabantine Gothic architecture, parts are built by Matheus de Layens. However, in the 17th century the works stopped and the building was never completely finished. The interior contains important artworks, including sculptures by Jacques du Broeucq and paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, Floris de Vriendt, Theodoor van Thulden, Otto Venius and Michiel Coxie.

References[]