The old Salvius church

The church is dedicated to Saint Salvius, a relatively unknown saint, who does not appear as a church patron in our regions. We do find it around Valenciennes, the capital of ancient Hainaut, now in northern France.

Salvius was one of the itinerant missionary bishops, whom we encounter several times in the seventh and eighth centuries. Around 730 he preached in the region of Valenciennes. While staying overnight in a nobleman's house near that city, he was murdered by his son Winegard, with his companion Superius. The motive was probably the robbery of the precious ecclesiastical vestments and vessels he had with him. He died on June 26, between 732 and 741. According to legend, he was buried in a stable, where a bull protected the site of his grave and prevented the other animals from lying there. From there Salvius is depicted with a bull.

The location of the church at the foot of the mighty castle hill makes it clear that it was a so-called 'own church': a church that belonged to the large landowner, the 'lord'. It was he who was allowed to collect the church tax, the 'tithe', he nominated the pastors for an appointment, he appointed the sexton, but he also had to take care of the construction and maintenance of the church and inventory. Indeed, several generations of lords of the manor have performed this task and have left their marks in and on the building.