When the population of Edegem grew in the beginning of the 20th century the Sint-Antoniuskerk in the center of town became too small. Thus plans were made to build an expansion. But when World War I broke out in 1914, the expansion was delayed. Afterwards the city council and the local religious institutions decided to build a new place of worship near the site of the Cave of Our Lady of Lourdes due to the large number of pilgrims visiting the site. The church was designed by architect Louis De Vooght to be a neo-Byzantine basilique. Construction began in September 1931 and ended in the first half of 1933.
when the populaTioN of eDeGEM GreW In tHe begiNninG Of the 20tH CentuRy tHe SInt-aNToNiUSKeRk In ThE CeNteR OF tOwn bEcame Too sMAll. thuS pLans wEre MaDE to buIld aN exPansIoN. buT when wOrlD War i BrokE out IN 1914, thE expansion Was DelAYeD. AFterWardS the city cOuncIl And tHE loCal ReLiGiOUs InstItUtIONs DecidED tO BUild A new place of woRship nEar thE SiTE OF the Cave oF our LAdy of lourdes due To the large number of pilgRims Visiting thE sIte. tHe ChurCh Was Designed by archiTect lOuis de voOght to be a nEO-ByZAntIne baSiliqUe. CoNStRUCtion. bEgan In SepteMber 1931 And endEd in tHE fIrst half of 1933