Perhaps you’ve wondered about that grand structure before you. It’s the \u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce. This church is more than just a building. It is a symbol of faith and perseverance in Lille.
\u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce stands on the site of an ancient feudal motte. This is where the first keep of the Counts of Flanders was. We call it \”la Treille.\” It is the Mother Church of the diocese. The church is a place for large gatherings during Catholic holidays.
The story of \u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce is one of devotion to the Virgin Mary. It gets its name from a 12th-century statue. This statue of the saint is said to have miraculous powers. The statue is known as Our Lady of the Treille. It was once housed in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter.
The idea to build \u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce had two goals. First, they wanted to rebuild a large church. This would replace the Collegiate Church of St. Peter. It was destroyed during the French Revolution. Second, they wanted to create an episcopal see in Lille. This would establish the city as a religious capital.
Construction of \u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce took nearly 150 years. The first stone was laid in 1854. An international competition was held to design the church. They wanted a design inspired by the Gothic style of the 13th century. The project faced many difficulties. Raising money to continue the work was especially hard. The cathedral was built in stages. Several generations of architects worked on it from 1856 to 1975.
The facade remained incomplete until 1995. \u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce was officially completed in 1999. The completed monument does not resemble the original design. This gives it an unmistakable charm.
The bold project to complete the cathedral’s facade was given to architects Pierre-Louis Carlier and Peter Rice. The rose window was designed by artist Ladislas Kijno. The exceptional portal is by sculptor Georges Jeanclos. By day, light streams in. It reflects off the immense glass roof.
Inside \u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce you will be amazed. Notice the heights and decor of the building. Pope Pius IX granted a decree of pontifical coronation. This was for the Marian statue within the church on June 15, 1874. The Archbishop of Cambrai carried out the rite of coronation on June 21, 1874. He was a papal legate.
Originally, it was a simple church. Pope Pius X gave it the title of minor basilica on October 7, 1904. On October 25, 1913, the same pope created the diocese of Lille. He did this via the papal bull Consistotiali Decreto. The basilica became its new cathedral. In 2008, the diocese of Lille became a metropolis. The cathedral became a metropolitan cathedral. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Lille.
Take a moment to appreciate the details. The light. The history. \u00c9glise Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ce is a place of welcome. It welcomes tourists, visitors, pilgrims, and the faithful. The church holds times of prayer and celebration. You can also find exhibitions and cultural events here.