Église Saint-Éloi - Dunkirk

The origins of the Saint-Eloi church, known as the Cathedral of the Sands , date back to the mid- 15th century.

It was built by Ghent master builders on the site of the St. John's Hospice . In 1558, the French, led by Marshal de Thermen, invaded the city and burned down the church. Only the tower remained standing . The reconstruction of the church began around 1560 under the direction of master builder Jean de Renneville. The sanctuary was enlarged to the east, the main nave was raised and the aisles were rebuilt with chapels, but due to lack of money the work was halted in 1585. The old tower, separated from the new church by part of the ruins of the first church, remained isolated and was used as a bell tower, city belfry and sea wall. The original project was never completed.

In 1731, the space separating the unfinished church from the bell tower, which had been turned into a public thoroughfare in 1591, was converted into a street.

In 1782, the architect Victor Louis was commissioned by Intendant Calonne to carry out extension work to accommodate the growing population. The new façade was completed in 1889. During the First World War, the church was badly damaged in 1915 and 1917. After a lengthy restoration, financed by war damage, it was reopened. However, during the French Campaign (May–June 1940), the church was hit by incendiary bombs , leaving only the walls. After further restoration work, the church was reopened in 1977 and work continued until 1985.

The interior of the church consists of five naves , including a central nave that is wider than the others. They end in a double ambulatory with five radiating chapels, each with a three-sided apsidal chapel. The nave has five bays and the choir has three straight bays and five ambulatory bays. Two sacristies flank the second side of the choir for a length of two bays.

The church of Saint-Eloi contains the remains of the French privateer Jean Bart (1650 - 1702), who became famous in the Battle of Texel.

Since most of the pre-1940 furnishings were destroyed , the church benefited from the addition of 18th and 19th century furnishings from the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church.

The stained glass windows in the choir and the large rose window were made by master glass artist Pierre Gaudin. The other windows were made by master glass artist Henry Lhotellier after designs by painter Arthur Van Hecke.

The large organ, also modern, is a Gonzalez organ built in 1970. It has three manuals with 56 stops and a pedal with 32 stops with mechanical action for the notes and electric action for the stops.

Willem Vandenameele