Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame-des-Sables de Berck was built at the end of the 19th century to meet the spiritual needs of the Catholic residents of Berck-Plage, far from the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Berck-Ville. In 1877, Aristide Danvin, former mayor, launched a public initiative to finance this project, culminating in the formation of a committee in 1882. Subscriptions, concerts and quests help raise the necessary funds. The works, led by architect Clovis Normand (also designer of the town hall) and entrepreneur Delattre, begin on a plot of 957 m2. The building, with an elongated plan with three naves, was inaugurated in 1887 under the name Notre-Dame-des-Sables.

The church is distinguished by its pitchpin frame, inspired by English models double hammer beam of the 15th–12th centuries, culminating at 13 meters. Originally, the walls alternated ochre bricks and red bricks, now masked by a beige-rosed padigeon. The bell tower, initially covered with a pavilion roof topped by an arrow, is modified for a square arrow. In 1926–27, six spans were added, replacing the three-sided bedside with a flat bedside. The stained glass windows, signed Levêque (Beauvais), and the murals of the brothers René and Luc-Olivier Lesieur, illustrating the life of the Virgin and Christ, enrich the interior.

From a legal point of view, the church belongs first of all to the Tontinian society, escaping the 1905 law on the separation of the Church and the State. It was transferred to the municipality only in 1988. Its status as a Registration for Historic Monuments in 1993 (for the building and the paintings of the choir) underscores its heritage importance. The building also reflects the rise of Berck-Plage as a seaside resort at the end of the 19th century, marked by the influx of tourists and urban development initiated by local figures such as Émile de Lhomel, founder of the district.

The materials and techniques used, such as brick bases or complex structures, show a variety of architectural influences. The main façade, pierced with lancettes and an oculus, as well as the wooden porch, illustrate an eclectic style. The enlargements of the 20th century correspond to the increase in the summer population, while the works of art (glass windows, paintings) highlight the cultural and religious dimension of the place. Today, the church remains a symbol of the coastal and architectural heritage of the Hauts-de-France.

External links