Église Saint-Clément

In the bustling heart of Wasquehal, a beacon of faith stands tall: Église Saint-Clément. Église Saint-Clément’s story begins in the early 20th century. The Capreau district, teeming with a new working-class population, lacked a nearby place of worship. Some residents trekked 3km to Église Saint-Nicolas, others to Saint-Pierre in Croix or Saint-Éloi in Tourcoing. Église Saint-Clément was the answer to their prayers. Clément Béthune, a prominent patron and early Capreau resident, generously donated land for the church. Thanks to the impetus of Abbé Louis Couppez and the generosity of wealthy Roubaix, Tourcoing, and Wasquehal families, Église Saint-Clément began to take shape. Construction commenced in 1911. A temporary chapel, erected behind the future church site, faced closure due to administrative hurdles. Yet, the law separating Church and State ironically reopened its doors, allowing the first mass to be celebrated. The main structure of Église Saint-Clément was nearly complete by 1912. However, the prevailing anti-clerical climate delayed its full completion until later that year. The church was consecrated by Mgr Jean-Baptiste Carlier. Among those involved in its construction was Émile Cornille, father of Thérèse Cornille, the founder of Claire Amitié. Sadly, an act of vandalism marred Église Saint-Clément’s early years. Vandals set fire to the church interior. Thankfully, Abbé Couppez and local residents extinguished the flames, a testament to the community’s spirit. In 1934, Cardinal Achille Liénart baptized the twelfth child of the Vanrapenbusch-Van Loocke family within Église Saint-Clément’s walls, with Mayor Henri Détailleur as godfather. The church underwent a major renovation between 2015 and 2017. The striking exterior architecture was fully restored, replacing the original checkered glazed and natural tile roof with a sleek black glazed tile covering. Inside Église Saint-Clément, vibrant colors breathe new life into the space. Fuchsia pink, orange, and sapphire blue adorn the side walls, violet graces the gallery, and pearl gray hues complete the palette. This transformation, completed in 2020, harmonizes beautifully with the stained glass, illuminating the church with radiant light.