Temporary church Ommel

A former warehouse belonging to the farmers’ union that was converted into an ‘temporary church’. The building served as a church between 1945 and 1963. Original features from the temporary church, such as the confessional, can still be found in the building (now a private residence). Listed as a municipal monument.

During the liberation battles in 1944, the old church of Ommel, which stood on the current square, was so badly damaged by gunfire that it was no longer worth rebuilding. Café Eijsbouts was then temporarily used as a church.

Fortunately, the statue of Mary (a national monument in its own right) had survived, as Father Vogels had taken the miraculous statue with him on his flight to Deurne.

There was also a Boerenbond warehouse in Ommel, built in 1925. Using the rubble from the old church, the Boerenbond building was transformed into this beautiful temporary church. In this little thatched-roof church, the Boerdonk sisters felt even more like missionary sisters. The temporary church was consecrated at the end of April 1947. The turnout was so great that people often had to stand outside.

A condition for granting the building permit was that the building had to be restored to its original state once a new church came into use. However, this never happened. To this day, it still looks just like the temporary church of yesteryear. Nowadays, it is a private residence and a Bed & Breakfast, and weddings can even be held at this location.

The building served as a church between 1945 and 1963.

Did you know?

As soon as the new church in Ommel was put into use, the ‘temporary church’ was actually supposed to be restored to its original state? However, this never happened and the building still looks just like the temporary church of that time.

Practical information

- The emergency church is currently used as a private residence and a bed and breakfast and is therefore not open to the public.

- Its current name is ‘Ons Witte Kerkje’.