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Canon G. F. Tanghe (1802-1879) s/v Joannes
Baptista and Maria Theresia De Brabandere [1] ‘There is no
place, however small it may be, that is of no historical
significance’
The Oekene fair or kermis begins with the
“Gardeboefeesten” and lasts for one week. This is when we
celebrate the Feast of Saint Cornelius. The kermis is probably
linked to the consecration of the church 600 years ago - as the
name ‘Kerkmis’ (kerk=church) would indicate. In St Martin’s
church St Cornelius was called on to prevent children’s
illnesses, neuroses and any cattle diseases.
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St Martin’s church Oekene 11
November the feast day of St Martin
Oekene has just one parish: the parish of St Martin,
dedicated to the Holy St Martin. There are still some
communes where St Martin comes with toys and sweets on 11
November. This can best be compared with Father Christmas.
The church of St Martin is one of the very few churches in
Flanders that is to be found on the edge of the village.
Generally the church is found in the middle of the village.
The grass field around the church was, until the 1970’s, a
churchyard. A municipal cemetery was then set out a little
further away. On the monument by the church that
commemorates those who perished in the First World War you
can see the old way of writing the village name “Ouckene”.
The church tower was built in the fifteenth century. It has
two embrasures so that the tower could be defended. On the
front of the tower you can make out the builder’s mark. The
village guard would have left his messages on the ‘calling
stone’, which is still standing. |
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26 COURTRAI Pays Sud ouest du N° 7 GAND environs de COURTRAY. Publié par le citoyen Ls Capitaine Ingenieur (1750) |
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