The chapel of Stoepe grows in the stream of centuries to a small church. Circa 250 pilgrims can sit in the church.

Probably of very humble origin - most old pilgrimages are - is the yearly growing stream of pilgrims the cause and opportunity to build the chapel, first very modest, in this case only a choir closed with a fence and with a few chairs there in. Later the chapel needs more place for the quick growing groups out of the parishes of the northern region, located between the cities of Gent, Brugge and Hulst.

The oldest historical data we find in 1487. We also have sources of the legends.

a) The usual legendary story is a beautification of a historical fact. In this case for Stoepe, it is meant to enhance the marial devotion of the believers. Such things are usual in the Middle Ages. We must try to see the historical in the legend. The statue hung in a big oak, or trunk of an oak, just on the place where now the choir of the chapel is. We can see this in the back of the statue because a cramp with nuts is still in it. The back of the statue is not chiseled but it is raw, just a piece of wood without bark. The tradition and these remnants testify that at the feet of the trunk the people worshipped the statue. The growing group of pilgrims near this solely place, forced the priest of Ertvelde to expose the statue in the church. So it was also protected against rain and storm. But three times the statue returned to his place in the trunk of the oak. The clergy then interpreted this as the will of our dear Lady. The people of Ertvelde, together with the pilgrims gathered wood and stone. Under the liberal leading of a bricklayer, they built in the mentioned place the first chapel. In this chapel they gave a place of honor to the miraculous statue.

 b) Some historical texts let us form our insights in the making and growing of "Stoepe".

1. Nowadays two beautiful relics are used and presented to the pilgrims for worshipping. The have the form of a monstrous. The relic is holt in the glass on the place of the lunula. On the foot is the arm of a Spanish knight: "Orate pro anima Gasparis de Oliveira Hispani, 1487". This means "Pray for the soul of the Spanish Gaspar de Oliviera, 1487"

These gifts can not be given to a solely statue, but must be given to a sanctuary.

2. The oldest historical writing counts 18 pages. Petrus De Coesin, Veltstraete, Gent, printed it in 1721. It presents us a short story of miracles, the foundation of the "Broederschap van de Doodstrijd" (= brotherhood of the struggle of death), With a enumeration of the many indulgences and the title of honor of our dear Lady of Stoepe: "Moeder van Barmhartigheid" what means mother of charity.

3. A printed book of 180 pages exists. It is written by a reverend father Th. Ingels, a Jesuit. Subject is "O.L.Vrouw van den Doodstrijd" (our dear lady of death struggle). It is founded by the reverend father Baldwijn George van Witfeld, and recognized forever by the holy pope Clemens XI on the date of 9 August 1720. It is granted to the church of Ertvelde and the chapel of Stoepe, and enriched with many indulgences and favors.

4. In 1911 a brochure of 110 pages is edited by the reverend father Kamiel van Laere, curate at Ertvelde between 1901 and 1911. This assistant priest mentions an handwriting of a man, born in Gent, the reverend father Leodegarius Cardon, in 1610 priest at St.-Kruis-Winkel, in 1611 at Assenede, and later priest dean at Hulst. These parishes at that time were a part of the diocese Ieperen. This priest was immediately hit by the common adoration of the people of the region, adoration for our dear Lady of Stoepe. He heard different stories about the beginning, the miracles and the healings. But he could not get the truth about it. And he wanted to know the truth behind the legends. His colleague at Ertvelde was Cornelius De Somere. This man was also priest for Oosteeklo and Kluizen. In these parishes there was a mass every 14 days.
These two invited the habitants of the ward of Stoepe, whether they belonged to the village of Ertvelde or Assenede, to a meeting. Cardon takes the statements, especially from the oldest people. Afterwards he noted the statements in an orderly way and let the relaters sign the text. It is a pity, but the original handwriting is lost. If we had it, we could correct many errors in the way a name is written, and get more clearness. An example. The name "Van Sprille" does not exist here, but "Versprille" is a well spread family here. The complete text is saved in the presbytery at Ertvelde:

It is signed by the presbyter Lod. Cardon.

5. Before we take conclusions out of this handwriting of the reverend father Cardon, we mention a fifth voucher. This proof is strong because of the authority of the author. It regards the book: "Flandria Illustrata" of Sanderus. The name of Sanderus is well known with historical writers. The historians trust him. He is born at Antwerpen, became priest after thoroughly studies, and wrote three well known books. They who own a book of him will hold it very carefully, as precious gems. They will not loan it. Two books are known only within monasteries and collectors, one tells us about the writers in the Flanders, and the other about the saints of the Flanders. We are proud for the third book. It is a pearl in the illustrated history of the Flanders: the "Flandria Illustrata" or glorified Flanders. He died in the abbey of Affligem on 16 January 1644.

But the additional circumstances regarding Stoepe in the book of Sanderus are impressive. Sanderus (= Antoon Sanders) was priest at Oosteeklo in the years 1617-1619. The distance between Oosteeklo and Stoepe is less than an hour. As a priest and presbyter of a neighbor parish he was interested in "Stoepe", goal of the pilgrimage of many of his parishioners.

The book "Flandria Illustrata" was published in 1641, this is 30 years later then the document of the old men, made by the reverend father Cardon. Sanderus mentioned how the old men of Ertvelde and Assenede told the history of Stoepe.

This let us think more that the pilgrimage of Stoepe was already flourishing. It was the flourishing that formed the reason for the priests of the region to seek for the beginning and growing of pilgrimage and chapel.

After all let us take another proof, however not so strong because the sources are not mentioned. One of the previous priests of Ertvelde, the reverend father P. Picavet, mentions the following facts in the Liber Memorialis. He maintained very well this book with facts to remember. Image breakers destroyed the chapel in the XVIth century. The princes Albrecht and Isabella visited different places of pilgrimage, among others Scherpenheuvel and maybe also Stoepe. They insist on it, and with the help of an important gift the chapel was reconstructed and consecrated in 1613. The main altar is repaired in 1656. We find that year cut in the cross above the main altar.

- In the "Liber Memorialis" we read that an other predecessor, the reverend father J.B. De Meyer, celebrated in 1860 with big ceremonies the 300 year jubilee of the chapel. This means the chapel as we know it today, was build in the time of Maria-Theresia.

Some conclusions:

1. The statue of our dear Lady of Stoepe is sculptured from a piece of oak of a tree in the forest. The statue was exposed on a big cut branch. In the XVth century a little chapel was build to protect and worship the statue. The chapel is certainly build before 1487. In this year the catholic Spanish people give presents, which could only be saved in buildings. We do not know at which year, but probably the conversion from a step to a choir takes some years. The development of a pilgrimage without apparition of our Lady and without very strong miracle (as in Oostakker) takes a lot of time. We may suppose that already in 1560 there was a chapel with 265 chairs. The pilgrimage is certainly begun in the XIVth century.

2. Before the XVIth century, and maybe with the help of distinguished Spanish nobles, as Olivera in 1487, a chapel was build, with a tower as a pepperbox. This tower confirms the Spanish influence. The tower at that time was placed above the portal. Also the sacristy was not so big as afterwards, after the rebuilding. Everybody can see the former architecture on the outerwalls

3. The paintings on poles, mentioned by the old men, and mounted besides the way of the pilgrims, joined spiritually the church of the parish with the sanctuary of Stoepe. Now there is a street from the church to a big cross. The street is called "Hospitaalstraat" and the place where the cross is called the kapoen, what means the capon. Centuries ago it was only a path, very quiet and thus a guarantee for devotion. A street takes away the religious mood and modesty. The paintings should have promoted the internal attention. Maybe the poles and paintings were so damaged that the responsibles decided not to replace them. Maybe other circumstances so as the construction of the street, the death of responsible persons slowed down the restoration and at end nothing happened for this repair.

N.B. - According to the notes of the reverend father De Meyer in the Liber Memorialis, he found the statue of Stoepe dressed very luxuriously. But for the occasion of the jubilee of 300 years he had the colors repaired by the painter Wauters of Langerbrugge. In this way it glitters above the main altar.