Manor of the Christ

Abandoned rectory with a beautiful stained glass window.

This rectory was built in the second half of the 18th century. The accompanying neoclassical gatehouse and coach house date from around 1800. The estate was designated a protected heritage in 1975. The building has been the subject of a bitter dispute regarding property rights between the local authority and the church council. This has delayed the much-needed restoration of the building for years, causing its general condition to deteriorate. The house has since been declared uninhabitable. Sections of the cornice have already collapsed due to water damage. Visible damage is also present in the gatehouse. A subsidence in the floor is causing cracks and fissures in the building.

This first own discovery wasn't an easy one: it took some pretty daring maneuvers to get into the building without causing any damage. The building was practically empty, except for a cluttered old office. There were, however, two beautiful stained-glass windows, one above the front door and one halfway up the stairs, that made the visit worthwhile. And there was the bust of Christ on the windowsill that inspired the urbex name "Manor of the Christ."

Location Belgium
Category Religious
Visited May 22, 2016
Status Renovated

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