Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint Martin de Pas-en-Artois originated in a priory founded shortly after the passage of Saint Martin in the fourth century. Located on the banks of the Kilian River, it served both as an abbey and parish church. This place of worship, deeply rooted in local history, has undergone several major transformations over the centuries, mainly due to natural disasters and fires.

In the 18th century, the church was completely rebuilt after a devastating flood. The nave and choir were erected in 1761, raised to guard against future floods, while the bell tower, originally rebuilt in 1532 after a fire, collapsed in 1766 before being rebuilt in 1773. The vault key above the door, dating from the 16th century, bears witness to these successive reconstructions. The bell tower is surmounted by a sandstone and brick base to protect it from flooding.

In the 19th century, the interior of the church was completely redesigned. Between 1858 and 1859, the architect Alcide Carré and the ceiling-maker François Detroye restored the vault and restored the decorations. The stained glass windows, made between 1868 and 1870 by Felix Courmont, master glassmaker of Arras, were inspired by the 13th century style. In 1913, the central driveway floor was remodeled into small ceramic stoneware cabochons, adding a handcrafted touch to the building.

The church of Saint Martin, classified as a Historical Monument, illustrates through its architectural transformations the challenges posed by its natural environment and the artistic evolutions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The successive protections, including the inscription of the bell tower in 1929 and the entire building in 2020, underline its heritage importance.

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