Temple de l'Observatoire
Encyclopedia
The Temple de l'Observatoire (Temple of the Observatory) was a Protestant Christian church in Brussels, started in 1834 when a group left Brussels Protestant Church
and called French Methodist missionary, Philippe Boucher (1811–1885), to serve as their pastor. preferring "evangelical, saving, pious" preaching to the "rationalistic" and "cool and academic" ministry of pastor Chrétien-Henri Vent.
The church initially met in hired premises on rue Verte (now rue de Bréderode), before in 1837, with the help of funding from the USA, constructing their own place of worship on boulevard de l'Observatoire (now boulevard Bisschoffsheim): the Temple de l'Observatoire. 'Mr. Boucher's Chapel' was at the time only the second dedicated place of Protestant worship in Brussels (the other being on Place du Musée), the first building in neo-gothic style built in Belgium and at one time was the oldest surviving building on the boulevard Bisschoffsheim.
The second pastor was the Swiss preacher, Léonard Anet, who served 1843-1860.
Over the years famous members/adherents at the Temple included Charles Lagrange, professor at the military academy and author of works on the subject of the Bible and science, Jacques de Lalaing
, a sculptor and painter, and, for some time, General Gallet, aide-de-camp to King Albert I.
In 1836 the Belgian Evangelical Society was formed and in 1849 this was reorganised into a denomination, the Belgian Christian Missionary Church (L'église Chrétienne Missionaire Belge), along presbyterian lines and adhering to the 1561 Belgic Confession
. The Observatoire joined the denomination in 1853.
In 1837 a Calvinist-minded group broke away from the more Wesleyan-oriented church to form L’Église de la rue Belliard
). The two congregations reunited (1858, 1890) and separated again (1871, 1917) on more than one occasion, before finally reuniting in 1973 as Brussels Botanique Protestant church (l’église Protestante de Bruxelles-Botanique).
Around 1974 the difficult decision was taken to demolish the Temple (dating back to 1837) and the new Temple du Botanique was constructed on the same spot and dedicated in 1977, where the church meets to this day.
Brussels Botanique Protestant church is now part of the United Protestant Church in Belgium
denomination.
Succession of ministers at the Temple:
1834-1843 Philippe Boucher
(F)
1836-1837 Denis Lourde-Laplace
1843-1869 Léonard Anet (CH)
1857-1870 Eugène Filhol
1871-1873 Philippe Boucher
(F) (for the second time)
1873-1874 Adolphe DESQUARTIERS
1875-1885 James Hocart (son)
1885-1889 A. Legros
1890-1895 Rodolphe Meyhoffer
1895-1900 Auguste Rivier
1900-1919 Edmond Durand
1919-1922 Henri Anet
1922-1924 Kennedy Anet
1924-1930 Oswald Michotte (CH)
1930-1931 Kennedy ANET
1931-1946 Raoul BORDARIER
1946-1949 Fernand BARTH
1947-1948 Emile JEQUIER
1948-1961 Albert DE HALLER
1961-1966 Bernard ROBERT
1966-1971 Bernard COVIAUX
1972- Wilfred HOYOIS (consulent)
Brussels Protestant Church
Brussels Protestant Church is a Brussels-based Protestant Christian congregation formally constituted in 1804 and whose roots go back to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century....
and called French Methodist missionary, Philippe Boucher (1811–1885), to serve as their pastor. preferring "evangelical, saving, pious" preaching to the "rationalistic" and "cool and academic" ministry of pastor Chrétien-Henri Vent.
The church initially met in hired premises on rue Verte (now rue de Bréderode), before in 1837, with the help of funding from the USA, constructing their own place of worship on boulevard de l'Observatoire (now boulevard Bisschoffsheim): the Temple de l'Observatoire. 'Mr. Boucher's Chapel' was at the time only the second dedicated place of Protestant worship in Brussels (the other being on Place du Musée), the first building in neo-gothic style built in Belgium and at one time was the oldest surviving building on the boulevard Bisschoffsheim.
The second pastor was the Swiss preacher, Léonard Anet, who served 1843-1860.
Over the years famous members/adherents at the Temple included Charles Lagrange, professor at the military academy and author of works on the subject of the Bible and science, Jacques de Lalaing
Jacques de Lalaing (artist)
Jacques de Lalaing was an Anglo-Belgian painter and sculptor, specializing in animals.- Life :Born in London as the son of a Belgian diplomat and an English aristocrat, Lalaing was raised in England until 1875, when he moved to Brussels...
, a sculptor and painter, and, for some time, General Gallet, aide-de-camp to King Albert I.
In 1836 the Belgian Evangelical Society was formed and in 1849 this was reorganised into a denomination, the Belgian Christian Missionary Church (L'église Chrétienne Missionaire Belge), along presbyterian lines and adhering to the 1561 Belgic Confession
Belgic Confession
The Confession of Faith, popularly known as the Belgic Confession, is a doctrinal standard document to which many of the Reformed churches subscribe. The Confession forms part of the Reformed Three Forms of Unity...
. The Observatoire joined the denomination in 1853.
In 1837 a Calvinist-minded group broke away from the more Wesleyan-oriented church to form L’Église de la rue Belliard
L’Église de la rue Belliard
thumb|rightL’Église de la rue Belliard was a Brussels-based evangelical Protestant congregation, started in 1837 when a group left the Temple de l'Observatoire Protestant church....
). The two congregations reunited (1858, 1890) and separated again (1871, 1917) on more than one occasion, before finally reuniting in 1973 as Brussels Botanique Protestant church (l’église Protestante de Bruxelles-Botanique).
Around 1974 the difficult decision was taken to demolish the Temple (dating back to 1837) and the new Temple du Botanique was constructed on the same spot and dedicated in 1977, where the church meets to this day.
Brussels Botanique Protestant church is now part of the United Protestant Church in Belgium
United Protestant Church in Belgium
The United Protestant Church in Belgium is a minority Christian church in Belgium, where the majority of the population is Roman Catholic. The name of the church in Dutch is Verenigde Protestantse Kerk in België and in French l'Église Protestante Unie de Belgique .The current President of the...
denomination.
Succession of ministers at the Temple:
1834-1843 Philippe Boucher
Philippe Boucher
Philippe Boucher is a retired French Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League. He is currently the General Manager of the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL.-Amateur:...
(F)
1836-1837 Denis Lourde-Laplace
1843-1869 Léonard Anet (CH)
1857-1870 Eugène Filhol
1871-1873 Philippe Boucher
Philippe Boucher
Philippe Boucher is a retired French Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League. He is currently the General Manager of the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL.-Amateur:...
(F) (for the second time)
1873-1874 Adolphe DESQUARTIERS
1875-1885 James Hocart (son)
1885-1889 A. Legros
1890-1895 Rodolphe Meyhoffer
1895-1900 Auguste Rivier
1900-1919 Edmond Durand
1919-1922 Henri Anet
1922-1924 Kennedy Anet
1924-1930 Oswald Michotte (CH)
1930-1931 Kennedy ANET
1931-1946 Raoul BORDARIER
1946-1949 Fernand BARTH
1947-1948 Emile JEQUIER
1948-1961 Albert DE HALLER
1961-1966 Bernard ROBERT
1966-1971 Bernard COVIAUX
1972- Wilfred HOYOIS (consulent)