Blacksmiths, coopers and carpenters in the Oude Kerk

Initially, blacksmiths, carpenters and coopers shared one guild and maintained an altar dedicated to St. Mathew together. When the carpenters seceded, the blacksmiths and coopers founded a new altar dedicated to their new patron saint Saint Eloy in 1491. Over twenty years later, they decided together to fund the last side chapel of the Oude Kerk: the Smidskapel. Not until 1552 did the blacksmiths and coopers go their separate ways, after which the maintenance of the chapel remained in the hands of the Blacksmiths' Guild until the Alteration . After the Alteration, the chapel took on a functional role primarily as an extension of the South Portal - a function it still fulfills in its current arrangement.

The Consequences of the " Beeldenstorm "

In Catholic times, the Oude Kerk housed numerous statues of saints and altars dedicated to specific saints. These did not survive the Beeldenstorm - a period of iconoclast outbreaks throughout Northern Europe - and the subsequent Alteration. For Protestants, richly decorated altars and images of saints were considered idolatry; they strove for a sober church interior that would not distract attention from worship. Even the Saint Eloy altar that stood in the Blacksmith's Chapel did not survive this period.

In addition, after the Alteration, the polychrome vault paintings of the Oude Kerk were painted over; this was also done to create a more austere church interior. During the restoration that began in 1955, the vault paintings were largely restored. Since then, two images are again visible on the vault of the Smidskapel. One image can be identified with certainty as St. Eloy. However, there is doubt about the second depiction: it cannot be determined with certainty whether it shows St. Peter or St. Mattthew.