Saint Landelin
Place Jules Bacq et du 11 Novembre
59269 Quérénaing
Church | XII-XVI-XVII | Romanesque, Gothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 10.00 - 17.00
Tue 10.00 - 17.00
Wed 10.00 - 17.00
Thu 10.00 - 17.00
Fri 10.00 - 17.00
Sat 10.00 - 17.00
Sun 10.00 - 17.00
Religious offices
Description
The origins of the church go back a very long way, as attested by the name of its patron saint: Saint Landelin. Living in the 7th century, this curious character converted after leading a life of robbery. After becoming a hermit, his reputation attracted many companions, leading him to found the abbeys of Lobbes (Belgium) and Crespin, just a stone's throw from the pretty village of Quérénaing.
In 1236, the first chapel was built by Nicolas Roussiau, knight and lord of Quérénaing. The chapel became the parish church and underwent several modifications. In its current state, the building has a nave and choir built in the 16th century in Gothic style. Built of sandstone, it has retained its pointed-arched windows and its Porte du Paradis. The nave is shaped like the hull of a ship. The panelled vaults are supported by arched beams decorated with sculpted figures, rediscovered during successive restoration operations. Of undoubted architectural interest, the hurricane of 1876 jeopardised its classification as a Historic Monument.
The church sits majestically on the village square, surrounded by lush parkland, on the site of the former cemetery.
All the stained glass windows (nave and choir) will be installed in the church in 2024. They were created by stained glass artist Marie Payen. Above the entrance door, the church's patron saint, Saint Landelin, welcomes visitors with open arms. On the other hand, when you leave the church, a stained-glass window invites you to follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims of St James, since the church is on the route to Santiago de Compostela.
A visit to the church in Quérénaing combines a true retrospective of local history with its spiritual roots, and shows the determination of the local people to preserve, enhance and pass on this meaningful shared heritage.
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Photos
Remarkable elements
The baptismal font
This baptistery is made from a single piece of cut sandstone. The octagonal basin, inscribed with the date 1569, rests on a 6-sided column and an 8-sided foot. This ensemble has been protected as a Historic Monument since 1986.
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Paradise Gate
On the north side is the site of the door, known as ‘In Paradisum’, leading to the cemetery that surrounded the church until 1903. The In paradisum is one of the Gregorian antiphons sung at the end of the funeral ceremony, when the coffin of the deceased is accompanied in procession from the church to the cemetery. This is why it is also known as the ‘Gate of the Dead’.
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The statue of the Virgin and Child
This gilded and polychromed wooden statue dates from the 18th or 19th century. Protected as a Historic Monument since 1986, this Virgin and Child embodies the link between the divine world and humanity.
With her outstretched hand, eyes and face, she is turned towards heaven, while the infant Jesus carried on her left arm is the incarnation of God. This Christ child is alive. He too welcomes his destiny with his hand turned towards heaven. The overall effect is fine and elegant, as shown by the movement of the gilded drape.
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Liturgical pools (or washbasins)
Located in a niche in the choir are two shell-shaped vats. The origin of this aquamanile is above all hygienic: it was used to wash (aqua) the hands (manus) of the priest for the handling and purification of the offerings by the parishioners, which could be in kind such as bread, vegetables, chickens, cheese, milk, candles or money, intended for the material life of the priest or to help the poor. Today, this practice continues symbolically in the gesture of the washbasin, when the priest wets only his fingertips.
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The stained glass windows
The stained glass windows in the nave invite you to progress towards the choir: the position of the central medallions in each of the windows gradually rises. The south side focuses on the great biblical story and the story of creation. Man, depicted as a good shepherd caring for Creation, comes last. The north side features scenes from the life of Saint Landelin, the thief who became a monk, and closes with the friendship lime tree, donated by the twin town of Boke (in Germany). The Franco-German friendship gives hope after the terrible tragedy that struck Quérénaing during the First World War.
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The stained glass windows in the choir
In the choir, the first stained glass window, predominantly blue, depicts the Virgin Mary above a burning village.
She accompanies 20 stars towards the sky, in reference to the inhabitants of the village of Quérénaing murdered during the massacre of 25 August 1914. Only one star is different. Blue on a yellow background, it refers to the sole survivor of the massacre.
The stained glass window opposite depicts the parable of the sower. This very large figure occupies almost the entire surface and is set against warm colours reminiscent of harvest wheat and barley.
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