Eglise aux Milles Arches, Belgium

Eglise aux Milles Arches was a church located in Charleroi, Belgium. This neo-Gothic church was built in 1876. The church was built on the site of an older church. This original church was demolished, due to structural problems. Coincidentally (or not), it seems there is a pattern here.

We visited this church in the summer of 2017, as part of our Control Rooms and Churches Tour.

Closure due to structural problems

Structural problems with the Eglise aux Milles Arches were first identified in 2012. The foundations were unstable due to mining galleries below. A police order demanding all services ceased was raised just before Christmas. Parts of the ceiling had begun to rain down, followed by larger fragments over time.

The congregation held services in an old post office. All religious items were stripped from the church soon after, to protect them from looting. As the years passed, it became clear that the city of Charleroi would not foot the bill for repairs. The church stood derelict, doors tightly closed.

The demolition of Eglise aux Milles Arches

In January 2019 a new stability study was undertaken by the city. The aim was the make an informed decision as to the fate of this beautiful building. It was concluded, after several months of study, that there was no feasible way to save the building. Unfortunately, the building overlooks a square, with several shops and restaurants nearby. Correspondingly, it was deemed the building would pose a security risk if it collapsed. The demolition order was signed in October 2019.

Eglise aux Milles Arches was deconstructed, starting on 5th December 2019. Prior to this, various religious groups assessed the contents of the church. Many heritage items such as stained glass windows and wrought-iron features, were salvaged. The bell towers were also carefully removed so that their contents could be saved.