Grandfather Vincent was a famous preacher in Breda. He played an active part in the Brabant church for forty years, and was the leader of associations of charity and of a Protestant school. His church was moderate, preaching a peaceful relationship with the Catholics.

During the Belgian revolution, which led to deep tensions with the Catholics, he opposed to more radical associations, such as "Unitas", which were questioning and criticizing his moderate views. One third of his association!s members left him to join these most aggressive, anti-papist associations. They accused the Association "du Bien-Etre" of "well-being" not struggling against the Catholics who threatened to take power in the Brabant, and of not preaching the "right religion".