Église Notre-Dame-de-Foy

Why was the Église Notre-Dame-de-Fives built in the first place? It all started in 1851 with a simple request. Abbé Léon Meesemaecker saw the burgeoning population of Fives and knew they needed a larger place of worship. He commissioned architect Charles Leroy to design a grand, new church. The first stone of Église Notre-Dame-de-Fives was laid in 1852. It was placed right on the site of an old medieval priory, a nod to the past as they looked towards the future. Just a few years later, in 1856, Monseigneur Regnier consecrated the newly finished Église Notre-Dame-de-Fives. Its neo-gothic style, crafted in red brick, stood as a beacon of faith in the growing community. But the story doesn’t end there. Fives became part of Lille in 1858. This annexation led to even more growth and, in 1869, the church expanded with the addition of two aisles. Église Notre-Dame-de-Fives wasn’t immune to the ravages of war. It suffered damage during both World Wars but was painstakingly restored each time. The church bells, a symbol of the community’s spirit, were taken by the Germans during World War I to be melted down. Yet, they were returned and reinstalled in 1923. More recently, in 2011, the bells were replaced as part of a complete renovation of the church. This extensive project, starting in 2010 and finishing in 2015, breathed new life into the beloved Église Notre-Dame-de-Fives. The exquisite stained glass, crafted by local artist Ernest Haussaire between 1899 and 1904, shines with renewed brilliance. Inside, four paintings by Bruno Chérier adorn the choir. “Souls in Purgatory,” “The Celestial Court,” “The Wise and Foolish Virgins,” and “Communion in Viaticum” tell their own silent stories. The first three were even featured in the 1873 Paris Salon catalog, while “Communion in Viaticum” was exhibited at the 1878 Salon. There’s also a unique treasure within Église Notre-Dame-de-Fives: an ancient statuette of Our Lady of Fives. It’s a poignant reminder of the faith that has sustained this community for so long. Today, Église Notre-Dame-de-Fives stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Fives. It’s a place of history, art, and above all, faith.