Bruno Vander Stichele

Bruno Vander Stichele was the son of Charles Vander Stichele, flax merchant in Gullegem, and Rosalie Nuttens. He lived with his family in the old vicarage, where a family member of Gezelle worked for them as a boarding maid. Gezelle often went there to play during the school holidays and was therefore well acquainted with the Vander Stichele family.
Bruno Vander Stichele was ordained priest on May 26th, 1888 in the Saint Saviour's Cathedral in Bruges. On September 18th, 1888 he was appointed teacher at the Sint-Amandscollege in Kortrijk-Harelbeke. Next he curated Our Lady’s parish in Lissewege starting on May 4th, 1892. On November 5th, 1897 he was appointed curate of the Sint-Antonius parish in Ingooigem, where he was undoubtedly acquainted with Gezelle’s nephew Frank Lateur (Stijn Streuvels) who came to live there in 1905. Bruno Vander Stichele resigned on November 4th, 1908 and became chaplain in Wielsbeke and later on in Moorsele.
Bruno Vander Stichele was an enthusiastic collector for Guido Gezelle and wrote him letters answering questions posed in the linguistic magazine Loquela and including some of his own findings.
This Bruno Vander Stichele must not be confused with his elder uncle, godfather and namesake canon Bruno Vander Stichele, who lived in Newcastle (England). Bruno asked Guido Gezelle for a Flemish translation of this uncle’s funeral card in his letter dated February 14th, 1886. As a retired priest he lived together with his sister Christina Vander Stichele at Bissegemstraat 122 in Gullegem.