St John the Baptist's church, GhentThe Church of St John the Baptist (Dutch: Sint-Jan Baptistkerk) was a Gothic Revival parish church and seat of a deanery in the Brugse Poort neighbourhood of Ghent, Belgium, an industrial area that arose as part of the city's 19th-century expansion. The initial building, to designs by J. Van Hoecke, was completed in 1860 and collapsed in 1863. It was rebuilt to adapted designs and completed in 1866.[1] The church was consecrated on 7 October 1866.[citation needed] The interior was also Gothic Revival, with altars, choir stalls, confessionals and communion rail probably designed by Jean-Baptiste Bethune.[1] The original murals were removed in the 1970s.[1] In April 1898, the parish church became the seat of a new deanery.[2] In 2016, the building was deconsecrated and put up for sale.[3] For almost 30 years, from 1888 until 1917, the parish priest was Emilius Seghers, who became the 25th bishop of Ghent.[2] The square in front of the church is named Emilius Seghersplein in his honour.[citation needed] References
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