Until the 17th century three parties shared the tithes of Diegem: the abbey of Kornelimünster received half, a ‘persona’ a third and the resident parish priest only a sixth. The persona was a titular holder who did not have to live in Diegem but did present the parish priest. In 1605 it was decided to merge the ‘personate’ into the parish, but this only took effect on the death of the last persona, Jan Bruloot, canon of St Gudula, on 15 January 1643. From then on the parish priest received a third. In 1707, after an eight-year lawsuit, parish priest Van Langendonck also won an annual supplement of 125 guilders from the abbey.
Some parish priests
The first known parish priest is Walterus de Vroede (1395). Bernaert van Woluwe, who died in 1565, was also an archer: in his will he left the lord of Diegem a Frisian axe, his best longbow, six arrows and the quiver. After the presbytery burned down in 1574, the priests lived in the castle for sixty years. Augustinus Beelden (1625-1639) cared for his parishioners during the plague. Joannes vander Eycken (1639-1684) gave Diegem its altars and its spire; under him the pilgrimage reached its peak. Joannes van Langendonck remained parish priest for 55 years and died in 1739 aged 88; he commissioned the pulpit and the panelling.
Joannes Hanset (1743-1774) started a new register and also noted in it his barrels of beer from a Leuven brewer. Remigius Forneville (1774-1798) built the sacristy, the ‘henhouse’ and the gallery with the organ. During the French occupation the priest Croons had to go into hiding and said Mass in secret at the castle of Cuddegem. Joannes Josephus Veulemans was parish priest for more than fifty years (1827-1879) and built the present presbytery. Carolus Ketelbant (1879-1896) launched Catholic education, and Henricus Meeus (1896-1916) built the Gildenhuis in 1905.
The sexton
The first known sexton is Henrick de Dumo (1382). The sexton was usually also organist, schoolmaster and treasurer of the poor table. When Gillis Henricx was appointed in 1664, he had to obey the parish priest, keep the church clean and avoid taverns and bad company; as organist he received 60 guilders and six measures of corn, and he held his school in the Holy Ghost house. Not everyone was a model: in 1575 sexton Jan vander Schueren was fond of a pint, and in 1594 Johannes Hallemans even neglected his school.
Carel Broes, sexton from 1709, was also a musician and taught dancing, which the parish authorities did not like. So as not to lose his appointment he promised a fine of 25 guilders for the poor the first time he played the violin or bass at a party or taught anyone to dance, 50 the second time and 100 the third; his father stood surety. A regulation from after 1818 forbade the sexton to keep a tavern or allow dancing in his house, and told him to warm the baptismal water in winter and to feed the offered hens. The last sexton of Diegem was Jan Lodewijk Michils, who died in 1969.
The verger
From 1858 a ‘suisse’ or church beadle kept order during services and processions. Melchior Hauwaert was the first, for 100 francs a year. He wore a tunic with gold braid, black trousers with a red stripe, a cocked hat and a long staff with a gilded point. The most colourful was Marinus Van Daele (1884-1909); the last, Frans ‘Max’ Keuten, who also rang the bells, probably stayed until 1929.