Carolus Borromeuskerk

St. Charles Borromeo Church (Dutch: Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk) is a Roman Catholic church in central Antwerp, Belgium, located on the Hendrik Conscienceplein. It was built in 1615–1621 as the Jesuit church of Antwerp, which was closed in 1773. It was rededicated in 1779 to Saint Charles Borromeo. The church was formerly known for 39 ceiling pieces by Peter Paul Rubens that were lost in a fire when lightning struck the church on 18 July 1718. History The church was inspired by the Church of the Gesu , the mother church of the Society of Jesus , a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. The church was built next to the Huis van Aecken , bought from the heirs of Erasmus II Schetz . It was the first church in the world to be dedicated to the Jesuit founder, Ignatius Loyola . In 1617–18, Peter Paul Rubens painted two altarpieces . He was also commissioned to paint the ceiling pieces, for which he made the designs while the.