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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of the Child Jesus of Wattrelos, located in the Labourer district, is the first church in the region dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux after its canonization. Built in 1927 by architect Charles Bourgeois, it is financed by Abbé Delebart, from a rich family of textile manufacturers, and by the donations of parishioners. Its Art Deco style and its rose-centered decor, a Theresian symbol, make it a unique building.

The church is built in reconstituted stone (agglomerated with cement), with ceramics made by Charles Fourmaintraux-Delassus in Desvres. Its stained glass windows, created in two separate campaigns (1930-1936 by David and Lesage, then 1947-1964 by Duthoit and Rouland), reinforce the homogeneity of the decor. The interior recalls the American churches of the 19th century, with rare stylistic consistency.

Classified as a historical monument in 2005, this church illustrates the post-canonization enthusiasm for Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. It also bears witness to the local industrial patronage, with Abbé Delebart as the central figure. Its architecture and iconography make it a major religious and artistic heritage of the Hauts-de-France.

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