Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Armbouts-Cappel, located in Armbouts-Cappel in the Hauts-de-France, was rebuilt in the 3rd quarter of the 20th century after the destruction of the Second World War. Funded by war damage, it replaces an earlier building and is part of a larger project including a second place of worship in the hamlet of Grand Millebrugghe. In 1953 the municipal council upheld the principle of reconstruction, initially entrusting the project to architects Lucien Housez and Charles Waldschmidt, before turning to Pierre Pinsard in 1955, whose plans were adopted unanimously.

The architecture of Pierre Pinsard combines regionalist references with modernity, with a brick structure of 15 meters by 40, a wooden frame based on a portico, and a symmetrical plane. The unique vessel, lined with wooden stands, includes a narrower choir flanked by sacristies and a weekly chapel. A covered passage belt the building on three sides, while a massive bell tower overlooks the porch. The stained glass windows, works by painters-glass Jean Bertholle and Louis Barillet, as well as the decorative elements (beanier, candlestick, tabernacle, Christ on the cross) signed by Gisèle Favre-Pinsard, Chéret and Champillon, underline the artistic collaboration of the project.

Reconstruction takes place in a context of post-war religious and community renewal, with attention to traditional techniques (brick, wood) and functionality adapted to parish needs. The narthex, covered with an awning, serves baptismal fonts, access to the bell tower and the nave, illustrating a thoughtful spatial organization. The church, classified as a Historic Monument in 2001, bears witness to this period of reconstruction where sacred art, local heritage and architectural innovation intersect.

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