The Temple des Augustins (alternatively Eglise des Augustins, Dutch/Flemish: Augustijnenkerk) in Brussels was a baroque-style church designed by the architect Jacob Franquart and erected 1621-1642.[1] It was located on Place de Broukere in the centre of Brussels[2] until its demolition in 1893-1894.
Closed by revolutionary troops in 1796, the church reopened for Roman Catholic worship in 1805.
In the run-up to the Battle of Waterloo (1815) it served as an arsenal for British troops and subsequently as a military hospital.[3]
Under the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau the building was designated a Protestant place of worship, alongside Brussels Protestant Church on Place du Musée[4] and the Dutch Church (Nederlandse gemeente) met in the Temple from 1816 until the Belgian revolution in 1830.[5]. The first Reformed service was held on 1 September 1816 and Hermannus Pauw (born 1770) and Dirk Rijke (1789–1830) served as ministers 1816-1830. In March 1817 the future William III was baptised in the Temple. Anglican Reverend Holworthy, chaplain to the British Ambassador, held English-language services in the Temple until 1829.
The last Protestant service was held on 21 August 1830; from 5 September the building was occupied by Belgian patriots. Many of the worshippers fled the city and the Dutch Church was left without a building, meeting in various locations before it eventually built its own premises at Zuidkaai in 1857.[6]
After 1830 the Temple served various purposes: for performances,[7] exhibitions and even as a post office, before in 1892 the decision was taken to demolish the building for town planning reasons.
The Temple was demolished in 1893-1894.
However the facade of the demolished building was retained and now serves as the facade of the Church of the Holy Trinity at Parvis de la Trinité (also in Brussels).[8].
