Our Lady of the Sands
Rue du Presbytère
62600 Berck-sur-Mer
Church | XIX | Contemporary | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 9.00 - 17.00
Tue 9.00 - 17.00
Wed 9.00 - 17.00
Thu 9.00 - 17.00
Fri 9.00 - 17.00
Sat 9.00 - 17.00
Sun 9.00 - 17.00
Religious offices
Sunday 11am
Description
The sea-side resort of Berck, and the hospital development, caused the need for a chapel near the beach. Built by Clovis Normand, architect of many churches during the 19th century, Our Lady of the Sands was opened in 1886. Later it became a parish church, and after the First World War, it was lengthened behind the sanctuary with five extra spans.
The building, which has three aisles, has an architectural element that is unique in North France : its beams of refer to the first wooden chalets of the resort ; and the exterior, now plastered and painted was originally in stripes of red and white brick, referring to the traditional early striped swimming costumes.
Place of worship privileged by the sick and the holiday-makers, they were welcomed by an immense painting showing, on a dune, the Virgin framed by the setting sun. Other paintings (“Saint Peter” and “The vision of saint Dominic”), painted walls, and the figure of Christ from an old marine cross, are also worth the visit.
Photos
Remarkable elements
The framework
Built when the church was enlarged, it is made of carved pitch pine, making it a unique architectural feature in northern France. This wood is only found in the south-west of the country.
Organ
Commissioned in 1933 from Gonzalez in Paris, it was installed in 1935 and inaugurated in 1936. In 1935, it was exhibited in Brussels at the World's Fair, where it was warmly received. It was restored in 2008.
The mural frescoes
This series of works was created by artists René and Luc-Olivier Lesieur (father and son) at the request of Abbé Asset. René Lesieur was awarded the Grand Prix de l'école de Roubaix. These murals depict scenes from the life of Mary on the left and the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, marriage, etc.) on the right.
The life of the parish
Each of these paintings represents a moment in life: the beginning with baptism and the great passage to eternity.
The Calvary of the Navy
In 1841, a violent storm caused the deaths of around fifty sailors from the parish of Cayeux; those from Berck, who were spared, decided to erect a calvary on the road leading to Baie d'Autre. In 1885, after being moved to Rue du Docteur Calvé, it was dismantled because it was in very poor condition and given to the painter Tattegrain. Upon his death in 1918, his heirs returned it to the parish, which decided to restore it.
The painting of Our Lady of the Sands
Created by Henri Junker (1882-1953) to thank Providence for healing his son, who was treated by Doctor Fouchet at the Rothschild Hospital. It was painted on site using scaffolding.
On either side of this painting are two canvases depicting ‘The Primacy of Saint Peter’ and ‘The Vision of Saint Dominic’, painted by René and Luc-Olivier Lesieur.
