From the Lancashire Coast to the City of Spires
I often think back to the village of Bolton-le-Sands where I grew up. Life there was shaped by the tides, the gulls, the enduring presence of the parish church , the canal and village life. The nearness of the sea taught me to look outward and beyond.
Now I find myself living in Ghent, a medieval city in Belgium where the skyline is a tapestry of towers and spires. Gone are the wide horizons of the coast; instead, I walk streets where history rises above me in stone. It’s a place where faith isn’t just practiced—it’s carved into the very architecture.
Encountering Ghent’s Great Churches
The first time I stepped into St. Bavo’s Cathedral I felt almost overwhelmed. Its soaring vaults and centuries‑old artwork make my childhood church seem impossibly small, yet the sense of God’s presence is unmistakable. It is awe inspiring. Each summer during the Gentse Feesten, the 10 days of Ghent city festival, Sint Bavo’s offers recitals of its powerful vault filling organ. Ground tremoring.
A short walk away is St. Nicholas’ Church, with its distinctive blue‑grey stone and central tower. Built by merchants, it reminds us that faith here was never confined to clergy—it was woven into the daily life of ordinary people.
Then there is St. Michael’s Church, rising gracefully beside the river Leie (Ghent is at the confluence of three rivers, the Leie, the Lys and the Schelde). Its unfinished tower is one of the unusual sights in Ghent. It’s a quiet reminder that our plans are always incomplete and that God has other designs for us all.
Living Between Two Worlds
When I visit Bolton-le Sands I’m struck by how different these two places are—my quiet coastal village and this vibrant medieval city. Lancashire gave me simplicity, community while growing up. In the summer Ghent gives grandeur, history, culture, markets and festivities, a café terrace lifestyle, Belgian beer! In the winter it has a deep, warm, safe and cozy atmosphere, Christmas markets, floodlit ancient buidings, flemish architecture.
A Journey Still Unfolding
I don’t know how long I’ll live in Ghent, but I do know that this city of spires has become a place where I love to live. Each cobbled street I walk, adds another layer to my understanding of this place and its deep history. The sea taught me to look outward; Ghent teaches me to look upward. And somewhere between the two, I’m learning to listen more closely to God who has guided me from one home to another and perhaps back again.
Andrew Walker.
