By Anne-Sophie Hourdeaux
Published on
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QR codes under its stained glass windows to make its nuggets better known: this is the innovative project of theSaint-Louis church in Marcq-en-Baroeul (North), Plouich district. The parish gives itself 3 months to collect 20,000 euros.
A real interest
How can you make the church in your neighborhood better known? This is the question that all parishes ask themselves. At the St Louis church, Plouich district in Marcq, we witness that at Heritage Days, the place of worship arouses great interest!
Saint Louis in “glass comics”
The stained glass windows of the Plouich church are the work of master glassmaker Charles Champigneulle. The 10 present in the nave recount the life of Saint Louis, from his birth to his death. They are in very good condition ! They have the particularity of being located quite low in the church, which allows you to see the many details. Smaller stained glass windows are located in height, they evoke the travels of the saint in particular. They were financed by structures in the district: the signature of the donors is engraved on the stained glass windows, such as the Delespaul-Havez chocolates or the Collège de Marcq…
The St-Louis du Plouich church was built in 1924 thanks to the donation of land and funding from Louis Delos. Marked by the First World War – he was a prisoner in East Prussia – he had promised to build a church if he returned alive. It was the architect Maurice Cockenpot who built the building.
The brick building is original, with a bell tower surmounted by a narrower octagonal turret, on top of which a rounded dome is placed.
The particularity of the Plouich district is to have been marked by the presence of a large textile factory, Boussac, closed in the 1970s.
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Why ? Firstly because this small church is welcoming, organized in an original way in a circular manner, with the choir in the centre. Also because it conceals treasures of sacred art, especially its stained glass windows entirely dedicated to the figure of Saint Louis. Then, thanks to enthusiasts who do not want this church to be forgotten.
A research work
Among them, an ISA teacher, Jérôme Follet, who has a gift: knowing how to tell stories. He did research in order to document his visit “in humorous anecdotes” specify the parishioners.
But it is only during Heritage Days that we can hear him recount the adventure of stained glass.
Video recordings
In order not to lose the work of this enthusiast, the idea of making an audio and video recording of his visit was launched. But what to do with this resource? “We thought of installing QR codes under the stained glass windows, which the visitor will flash with his mobile phone, in order to listen to the explanations of our guide! explains Gen Delaire.
Supporting projects within the firm “Idées d’Eugénie”, she was contacted by the parish to help.
“Each recording will last between 1 minute 30 and 2 minutes. The full 30 minute video will also be uploaded to YouTube. Also, the writing of a book of about forty pages on the church but also the neighborhood is being prepared” rejoice the parishioners.
Open doors
The priest, Ivan Pagniez, is happy that a local community is mobilizing in this way. “It’s a little-known neighborhood church that has stained glass jewelry. This project opens the doors of the church. There is a cultural dimension, with the life of Saint Louis. We enter the history of France with the stained glass windows, as in the church of Bouvines”.
The mayor, Bernard Gérard, also appreciates the approach: “The church is a structuring element of a city, you have to be proud of its history. This parish is endearing.
3 months to collect 20,000 euros
This project is a real challenge, because the parish gives itself only 3 months to succeed. The project costs 21,600 euros, 25% has already been collected thanks to companies in the city.
To celebrate the end of the challenge, the parish invites to a big concert on June 25, 2022 in the church, with the Maîtrise des Hauts-de-France, children’s choir, and choristers from Marcq Institution, accompanied by the choir of Charterhouse of Lyons. A medieval song is even in the repertoire!
In 2024, the Saint-Louis church will celebrate its 100th anniversary. There is no doubt that new ideas will spring up to celebrate the event!
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