A poignant story. That’s what this church whispers. This is Église Saint-Amé in Liévin. Not Lille.
The Église Saint-Amé stands before you. A testament to resilience. A brick and cement structure its neo-Romanesque architecture speaks volumes. It’s a Latin cross shape. The transept is barely sketched. The church faces north. A regional-style bell tower crowns the facade. A tall slate spire rises above it.
Originally simple clear glass filled the windows. Later colored polyester covered them. In 2008 however the municipality commissioned artist Judith Debruyn. She spent four years creating vibrant stained glass windows. These windows depict the lives of Liévin miners. They also show the mining disaster. Forty-two miners died in a grisou explosion. A sculpture by Raymond Mason also honors these miners.
Thirty-one stained glass windows fill the church. They were inaugurated on Saint Barbara’s Day. Saint Barbara is the patron saint of miners.
The first Église Saint-Amé was built in 1875. It was dedicated to Saint Amé. He was the patron saint of Amé Tilloy. Tilloy founded the Compagnie des mines de Lens. The company built the mining town its infrastructure and the church. The church served the workers and their families of mine no 3. This was also known as the Saint-Amé mine. It opened in 1858 and began operating in 1860. Sadly World War I destroyed the church.
The current church was built between 1934 and 1935. It sits near mine no 3 bis. The municipality acquired the church in the 1980s. You can visit the Église Saint-Amé on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Otherwise it’s only open for services.
The Église Saint-Amé. More than just bricks and glass. It’s a living memorial. A place of remembrance. A powerful story unfolds within these walls. A story of industry sacrifice and enduring faith. A story that continues to resonate.