Heerlekapel (Chapel), dedicated to St Cornelius, is located in the hamlet of Heerle in Poederlee. The current chapel was built in 1664 by the Proost family. The previous chapel on the same site burned down in 1622. The priest of Lichtaart had the chapel rebuilt. Heerle belonged to the municipality of Poederlee, but ecclesiastically it was dependent on Lichtaart. However, things weren't always smooth between Heerle and Lichtaart. Heerle residents resorted to the fathers from Herentals in the 18th century to provide the weekly celebration of mass.
However, the latter were banned from reading mass in Heerle in 1739. The relics of St Cornelius were actually kept in the church in Lichtaart for many years. Pastor Wouters of Lichtaart brought them back to the chapel in Heerle in 1866. In 1985, the chapel was completely restored, then given listed status in 2004.
The chapel used to be used for weddings or baptisms, but unfortunately this is no longer possible.
