Sainte-Marie-Madeleine au Petit Courgain Church, Calais

Father Georges Sauvage, appointed parish priest of Sainte-Madeleine on August 18, 1921, conceived the project of building a church that he planned to be quite large, as well as a presbytery and a workroom. Work was quickly undertaken. From September 1923 to December 1924, the work began under the direction of the architect Poyé. However, the ?nances were insufficient, and the work was interrupted. On December 24, 1924, Monseigneur Julien inaugurated the choir and a transept completed in the apse on the north side. From March 1924 to March 1925, a presbytery was created and on March 19, 1925, the church of Saint-Joseph was opened for worship.

A new parish is erected in the eastern ZUP of Calais, developed for the housing of the workers of the Dunkirk ironworks. The religious authorities first foresee a large parish centre, on the scale of the number of inhabitants expected in the area. Calaisian architect Georges Wiart drew up a preliminary project corresponding to this ambition in 1965. But the reduction of the budget led in 1967 to changes in the project for the parish centre, which was built in 1971-1974.

Its construction, begun in 1223, was only completed after several building campaigns up to the 17th century. Unique of its kind in France, Notre-Dame is probably the only church of Tudor influence in continental Europe. Its external appearance is similar to that of the cathedrals of Winchester, Rochester and Gloucester: it has neither buttresses nor buttresses, unlike most French cathedrals.