Stained glass in the Our-Lady-of-Pamele in Oudenaarde: The Choir Windows
The Our Lady of Pamele church (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Pamele) is the other church in the city center of Oudenaarde, on the other side of the Scheldt river. it is a smaller early gothic church (built between 1234-1300), it is a church typical for the style of ‘scheldt-gothic’)
The church is rich in artworks and stained glass, which is too much for one page so it will be over several pages. this page is about the windows high up in the choir.
The windows are quite high up and so not so easily visibile, also because some supportive iron bars are often in front of them.
there are 17 windows, 12 of the twelve apostles, in groups of three, 2 groups on each side. with 5 windows at the peak, a central Christ the king, with on the sides first Mary and Joseph and further Joachim and Anna, Mary’s parents.
The windows are made by Auguste Ladon from Ghent in 1935. Let’s take a look at each of the windows, going from left to right.
First is the apostle Saint Matthias, depicted with a cross, as according to some traditions he was crucified. His feast day is May 14th.
Next is the apostle saint Jacob (the greater), depicted with a pilgrim’s staff. he is the saint whose relics are in Compostella, the famous goal of many pilgrims through centuries. His feast day is July 25th.
Next is the apostle Saint Thaddeus. depicted with an axe, symbol for his martyrdom. His Feast is October 28th.
next is the apostle saint philip, carrying a cross/staff, symbol for his missions. His feast day is May 3rd
the middle of the second group of three is Saint Paul. depicted with a sword since he was beheaded. his feast day June 29th.
the last apostle on the left side is saint Jacob (the lesser), depicted with a fuller’s club, as according to legend he was beaten to death with a club. His feast day is on May 3rd.
the first of the central set of five is saint Joachim, the father of Mary, depicted as a shepherd, his profession. below is the heraldic weapon of pope Pius XI (born 1857, pope in 1922, died 1939). The feast day of Saint Joachim is July 26th.
closer to the central window is The virgin Mary with the child Jesus, holding a lily, a symbol for purity.
The central one shows Christ as King, with below the mage of the lamb of God. the text over the three windows (from the one to the left to the one on the right) reads the text from the mass: Agnus Dei qui – tollis peccata mundi – miserere nobis (Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us).
next is saint Joseph, father of Jesus, depicted with a Lily. his feats day is March 19th.
next is Saint Anna, mother of Mary. holding Mary as a child, below is the heraldic weapon of bishop H. Coppieters. her feast day is July 26th.
the first of the apostles on the right side is Saint John (the evangelist), holding a chalice from which a dragon flees, referring to the book of the apocalypse, written by John. His feast day is December 27th.
The middle window of the third set is Saint Peter, depicted with the traditional keys. His feast day is June 29th.
next apostle is Saint Thomas with a square. this attribute is linked to him as he was a builder and to his missionary work in India where he built churches. his feast day is july 3rd.
Next is the apostle saint Bartholomew, depicted wit ha knofe referring to the fact he was martyred by being flayed alive. his feast day is August 24,
Next is Saint Andrew, shown with the saint Andrew’s cross. on which he was crucified. His feast day is November 30th.
Last is Saint Matthew, the apostle. depicted with an axe, as according to the legend he was murdered with an axe. his feast day is September 21st.
All pictures taken by me and copyrighted, on 17 May 2025 or 28 September 2025
Source
Inventaris van Het kunstpatrimonium van Oost-Vlaanderen – De Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk van Pamele te Oudenaarde II.Kunstwerken, Lic. Rosa Van Den Abeele-Bellon, Gent, 1979. (NL)