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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Wasnon church, located in Place Verte in Condé-sur-l'Escaut (Northern Department), was built between 1751 and 1756 on the initiative of Marshal Emmanuel de Croÿ-Solre, local lord. The Parisian architect Pierre Contant designed the plans, partly inspired by the chapel of Versailles, while integrating a pre-existing bell tower erected between 1607 and 1621. The latter, 44 meters high, combines brick, stone and sandstone, with a characteristic bulbous arrow.

The classical facade of the church, in white stone, has two floors on a sandstone base, decorated with canned columns in Bavay stone and bas-reliefs dated 1856. Inside, twelve Ionic columns in blue stone of Marbaix structure the nave, while the choir houses stalls carved in homage to musician Josquin des Prés, provost of the neighbouring collegiate. The painting of the Assumption of the Virgin, painted by Charles-Gustave Housez, and a pulpit of truth depicting the parable of the sower complete the remarkable furniture.

Classified as a historic monument in December 1978, the church replaces a medieval parish building deemed to be old during the assessments conducted in 1749-1750. The financing, initially estimated at £53,200, was partly covered by the city through local taxes and loans negotiated by the prince of Croÿ. The rapid construction was completed in 1755, although later modifications (polychrome paints, glass windows in the 19th century) altered its original appearance.

The bell tower, preserved from the old church, was connected to the new nave by a sacristy, forming a hybrid architectural ensemble. Local materials – sandstone, brick, limestone from Avesnes-le-Sec and Marbaix – reflect regional resources. The original plans, proposed by Brother Louis de Saint-Joseph, were reviewed by Contant d'Ivry, who favoured a classical party superimposing doric and ionic orders, according to the sponsor's preferences.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, restorations were carried out by architects such as Deleau, Grimault, or Dutouquet, preserving the structure despite additions such as interior polychromy. The church, a communal property, remains a testimony of the religious architecture of the Enlightenment, mixing versatile influences and local traditions. Its furniture and decorations celebrate both the artistic heritage and the musical history of Condé-sur-l'Escaut.

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