First stone of the original church 1858 (≈ 1858)
Set by Albert Debayser.
1862
Opening and consecration
Opening and consecration 1862 (≈ 1862)
First building opened.
24 mai 1940
Fire by Germans
Fire by Germans 24 mai 1940 (≈ 1940)
Start of destruction.
15 juin 1944
Final bombardment
Final bombardment 15 juin 1944 (≈ 1944)
Total destruction of the church.
24 avril 1955
First stone of reconstruction
First stone of reconstruction 24 avril 1955 (≈ 1955)
Work started by Yves Laloy.
1959-1960
Blessing and opening
Blessing and opening 1959-1960 (≈ 1960)
Inauguration of the current building.
2009
Label *Twentieth Century Heritage*
Label *Twentieth Century Heritage* 2009 (≈ 2009)
Official recognition.
20 mars 2015
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 20 mars 2015 (≈ 2015)
Total protection of the building.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The church Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, located 26, rue de la Libération, district of Capécure, in total (Box VC 152, cf. plan annexed to the decree): inscription by order of 20 March 2015
Key figures
Albert Debayser - Municipal architect
Designer of the first church (1858).
Yves Laloy - Architect
Post-war reconstruction ( 1950s).
Henry Lhotellier - Glass artist
Creator of the current stained glass windows.
Origin and history
The church of Saint Vincent de Paul, located in the Capécure district of Boulogne-sur-Mer, is first built by architect Albert Debayser. Its first stone was laid in 1858, and it opened in 1862 to accompany the boom of the then dynamic harbour district. Fired in 1940 and destroyed by a bombing in 1944, it symbolizes the ravages of World War II in the region.
After the war, the church was rebuilt 500 metres from its original location, according to the plans of architect Yves Laloy. The first stone was laid in 1955, and the building, blessed in 1959, embodies the renewal of Sacred Art with its stained glass windows signed Henry Lhotellier. Its modern architecture, marked by a rectangular nave and a cloister dedicated to Notre-Dame de Fátima, earned it the 20th century heritage label in 2009 and an inscription to historical monuments in 2015.
The present church is distinguished by its stone façade, its two-paned roof covered with tiles, and an arrow reborn in 1990. Its square bell tower and covered galleries form a harmonious ensemble, reflecting post-war architectural innovations. Owned by the commune, it remains a place of worship and memory for the Boulonnais, testifying both to the destruction and the reconstruction of the city.
The Capecure district, historically linked to the port, saw its development marked by this church, first as a community gathering place, then as a symbol of resilience. The stained glass windows and the ornamental concrete structure illustrate the alliance between religious tradition and modernity, characteristic of the reconstructions after 1945 in France.
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