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Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Piat de Courrières, originally built in the 16th century (circa 1534), was almost entirely destroyed during the fire of the village by the Germans on 28 May 1940. Only the walls of the three ships and the tower of the bell tower, classified as a Historical Monument as early as January 5, 1942, survived the flames. These ancient stone elements were preserved for further reconstruction.

The reconstruction of the church, carried out between 1961 and 1964, was entrusted to the architect of the Historical Monuments Charles Waldschmidt. The project adopted a stripped style, mixing modern brick and ancient remains. The historic bell tower was preserved, while the nave, of trapezoidal plan, was rethought with a semicircular apse and a week chapel modulable thanks to an accordion partition. The roof terrace, covered with stainless steel, and glassware windows signed Bertrand and Boutzen mark this bold renovation.

The main entrance was arranged between the old bell tower and the weekly chapel, symbolizing the transition between preserved heritage and modernity. This church, owned by the commune, illustrates a post-Second World War reconstruction combining memory and architectural innovation. The 1942 classification and the integration of the old parts underline its heritage importance in the Hauts-de-France.

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