The Antonius Abtkerk

The Antonius Abtkerk is a Roman Catholic church located in Schaijk, Netherlands. The church was built in the 12th century as a Romanesque church and underwent several renovations and expansions over the centuries.

• Initially, the church had a Gothic-style renovation in the 15th century, followed by further expansions and renovations throughout its history.
• In 1661, Antonius Abt was first mentioned as the patron saint of the parish. The church's original name was St. Cornelius and St. Hubertus, which was part of the Herpen parish.

1. In the 17th century, the church underwent a significant renovation, becoming an independent parish church dedicated to Saint Anthony Abbot in 1667. This change led to a surge in attendance from outside the Land of Ravenstein.
2. The growth necessitated the construction of a new, larger church in 1827, designed in neoclassicist style.

In the following years, various acquisitions were made to adapt the interior to modern tastes. In 2003, an antique "Smits" organ (1754-1854) was purchased and installed in the church. The Deventer-Smits organ was subsequently designated as a national monument. The Pels organ on the choir was renovated in 2004.

The modern plastic chairs were replaced with dark wooden pews inspired by the Bossche School, inherited from the Uden parish. Some changes were later reversed. A Sacred Heart statue stands outside the church, installed in 1925.

1. In 1967, architect Jan de Jong from Schaijk was commissioned to adapt the church's interior to meet the new liturgical guidelines of the Second Vatican Council.
2. The entrance was converted into a baptismal chapel, and a new altar was installed in a more central location. A concrete floor was also installed.

Despite initial concerns about the state of the tower in 1941, it took until 1974 for restoration work to begin. In 1997, the tower underwent further restoration. In 2009, the church's interior was completely repainted with warmer colors and some decorative elements were reintroduced.

1. The stained-glass windows were restored to their original state in the 1980s.
2. A new bell tower was built, replacing the old Romanesque-style one.