Saint-Martin Church, Montignies-lez-Lens

In the church there stands a statue of Louis-Marie Grignion. He was a controversial French priest. He fought against what was known as heresy in the Vendée, such as Calvinism and Jansenism, and it is claimed that it was due to his zeal that the Vendée remained free from heretics. At the end of his life, he had gathered around him two priests and a number of lay brothers. Although he was supported by the bishop of La Rochelle, he also had many enemies and there was even an assassination attempt on his life. He initiated education for the poor and also called Trichet and Brunet to La Rochelle, which led to the establishment of the congregation of Daughters of Wisdom. After Louis-Marie's death in 1716, the male followers went to Saint-Pompain and formed the core of the later Montfortains. Many years later, the Brothers of Saint Gabriel split off from there.

Pascal Brackman