“Papa, who are Saint Calixte and Saint Évrard?” asks a child. We stand before the Église Saint-Calixte-Saint-Évrard in Cysoing. It is a place where history and faith intertwine. This church holds a unique story. It involves saints, relics and a town’s enduring spirit.
Cysoing is a town of 5000 inhabitants near Lille. It attracts city dwellers seeking nature and spirituality. The Église Saint-Calixte-Saint-Évrard stands at its heart. The church’s dual patronage is a legacy of its remarkable past.
The story begins in the 9th century. Évrard, the Duke of Frioul and his wife Gisèle founded an abbey. Gisèle was the granddaughter of Charlemagne. She brought the land as her dowry. In 854 Évrard acquired relics of Saint Calixte from Italy. Calixte was a former slave who became Pope around 217.
Due to fears of Norman invasions the relics were sent to Reims. They never fully returned. To compensate Évrard was canonized after his death around 869. His body became relics in place of Calixte’s. Gisèle then established a religious community. The abbey helped Cysoing prosper over the centuries. It gained renown throughout France.
In 1705 a new parish church was built to resolve disputes. These disagreements were between the abbey and the lords of Cysoing. The new church was outside the monastery. The monastery was completely destroyed during the French Revolution.
Dominique-François Gobert completed the church in 1709. It is a fine example of classical art from the Nord region with Baroque influences. Beautiful reliquaries dating from 1935 hold the relics. These contain Saint Calixte and Saint Évrard. They were saved from the Revolution.
Cysoing has attracted new residents in recent years. Father Grégory Watine oversees nine churches. These make up the parish of l’Alliance-Nouvelle. The Église Saint-Calixte-Saint-Évrard is an important place of worship. Its stained-glass windows were recently renovated. The parish welcomes new residents. They offer activities to promote integration and community.
Interestingly, another Église Saint-Calixte exists in Lambersart. This church was built in 1894 and inaugurated in 1896. It showcases Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements. The porch bell tower contains the 1603 Jesus bell. It is classified as a Historic Monument.
Gustave Pattein created sculptures. Latteux-Bazin made the stained-glass windows. A renovation in 2013 revived the colors. It harmonized them with the enhanced ceilings. These recalled the papal colors of Calixte 1st. This church also possesses a relic of Saint Calixte from the year 222. Saint-Evrard of Frioul brought it back in the 9th century.
As you leave the Église Saint-Calixte-Saint-Évrard remember its story. It is a tale of faith, relics and community. The stories of Saint Calixte and Saint Évrard live on. Their legacy is in Cysoing and beyond.