Saint Martin

The baptismal font

Made of Sainte-Anne marble, a black material native to Belgium, this baptismal font comprises a fluted base and a flared bowl decorated with gadroons (ornamentation in the form of a hollow or projecting moulding) on top of which is a bronze cover.

This 19th-century ensemble has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1973.

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The stoup

It has a pouring spout, allowing water to pass through to empty it without fear of spilling on the floor. This stoup is carved from Boulonnais magnesian marble. The bowl is shaped like a mortar bowl with ears and handles.

It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1973.

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statues of Saint Nicholas and Saint Eloi

The statue of Saint Nicholas, carved from polychrome wood in the 17th century, stands at the entrance to the church, behind the baptismal font. It depicts the bishop accompanied by three children in a salting tub, in reference to the legend of their resurrection. Nearby, the statue of Saint Eloi, carved from polychrome wood in the late 16th century, shows the saint as a bishop with an anvil at his feet, evoking the miracle of the horseshoe.

The stained glass windows

The stained glass windows were made by master glassmakers from Tournai, a town renowned for its expertise in the art of stained glass. The decorative style reflects that of 19th-century paintings, as well as references to religious symbols. Saint Martin is represented twice, notably in the episode of the cloak shared with a beggar. The other windows are dedicated to passages from the life of the holy family or to other saints. 

Christ on the cross

Nearly 3 m high and fixed to the outside (south wall of the tower), this Christ on the Cross was built by Louis-Joseph Bomart, mayor of the commune in 1806, who was responsible for rebuilding the church. Funerary plaques bearing the names of members of the Bomart family are placed on either side of the cross.

The cross is protected by a triangular pediment set on columns with composite capitals. Traces of polychrome can be seen in the centre, like a curtain.

The whole has been protected as a Historic Monument since 1973.

Notre-Dame de la Miséricorde chapel (route de Watten)

This small chapel was built in 1947 in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for protecting the village, which had been spared bombing raids on the nearby launch base during the Second World War.

The plans and exterior decoration (stained glass windows) were entrusted to the monks of Wisques Abbey, and the materials came from the Demoor brickworks, established in Ruminghem in the 1930s.

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