Église Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes

Did the aroma of starch ever lead you to a church? Because that’s part of the story of Église Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. Here in Marquette-lez-Lille, the scent of industry once mingled with the murmur of prayers. In the late 19th century, Edmond Verley, a devout Catholic and industrialist, established a starch and rice factory. He saw the growing workforce, drawn by the burgeoning industries, and felt a responsibility for their spiritual well-being. He envisioned a place of worship, especially for the women workers, where they could easily attend mass and receive communion. Église Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes was his answer. In 1912, a parish was created. A temporary wooden church arose on Verley’s land, facing the site of the old abbey. He initially planned a simple stone church in 1914. After the war, fundraising began. Verley remained the principal donor, but other industrialists contributed, reflecting the community spirit. The Église Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, as we know it, was inaugurated in 1932. In 2003, the commune purchased the church from the diocese. Its purpose shifted again in 2005, becoming a museum space focused on the Abbaye de Jeanne de Flandres. Vestiges from the abbey excavations, including the funerary stele of Gilles de Dadizelle, found a home within the church walls. Today, Église Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes serves as a cultural center, hosting exhibitions and concerts, though occasional masses still echo within its historic walls. From a starch factory owner’s vision to a bustling hub of culture, Église Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes tells a story of community, faith, and transformation.