History and vicissitudes of the church Saint Vaast

A document makes mention that the abbey of Hasnon had the seigniory of Leers and the right of altar which had been given to it by Baudri, bishop of Turned, in the year 1106.

On April 19th, 1147, the pope Eugene III confirms the possessions of the abbey of Hasnon.

This document evokes constructions in 1288, the probable origin of the church is thus of XIIIème century.

The primitive church is composed of the tower, the great nave and the chapel, the gate and the side door.

The mark of the builders is still visible on the external walls.

It is about St André's cross in enamelled bricks black of different size and also the mark from the stone-cutter at the entry Gambetta street.

The church of the XIIth century is burned by Beggar on August 17th. Restored, it is again burned in 1658 by the plundering soldiers of the French and English troops.

The left side aisle carries the date of 1688, year when repairs are completed.

In 1748, the tower is struck by the lightning and the bell-tower is destroyed.

During the Revolution, the church is transformed into barn, and the tower is used as forge.

In 1834, the tower is craked and it question to demolish it, but the walls of the tower will be connected by an iron corset where the name of "bell-tower connected".

In 1960, following a report sitting big problems of the building of the church, it is presented at the town council a plan of a new church with a concrete bell-tower. But the town concillor Mr. Anicet Decocq opposes it and after many discussions another restoration is carried out.

Inside the church

La statue de SAINT VAAST

Saint VAAST's statue End of the XVIIth century

Polychromatic wood, given by the bishop's Lille, this statue is baptized "Saint Vaast".

Under a uniform layer of dark color, the restorers from "ateliers des Beaux-Arts de Cambrai" discovered a polychromatic statue.

The organ

The organ is built by Delmotte brothers, organ builders in Saint-Léger (Belgium).

It is inaugurated Sunday February 16th, 1856.

A restoration of the organ case is carried out in 1970 and its first melody is heard the Christmas Day.

In 1989, the organ is entirely restored

The retable of the Leersois soldiers

It is in 1921 that it was installed the retable of the Leersois soldiers died during war 14/18.

Restored in 1921 it was highlighted under the porch.

The statue of the Virgin

The statue of the Virgin out of wooden of lime tree, is the copy of Notre Dame of Groëning de Courtrai, ralized by the local sculptor of Wasquehal, Mr. Hovenine

Stained glasses window

In 1915, 5 stained glasses windows are installed in the pulpit by the Masters glass-makers Evaldre and Turpin, on ordering of the Monteuuis priest, representing the life of the Christ.

They will be restored in 1996-1997 by the master glass-maker Brouard of Ronchin and will be protected by altuglas plates.

The splendid stained glass window above the porch represents the Crucifixion.

This stained glass window, whose origin goes back to 1901, was renovated in 1999.

Inaugurated on October 10, 1982, this modern stained glass window was offered by the town of Juchen (Germany).

Under the protection of the cross, the blazons of cities Juchen and Leers, represent the signs of the friendship.

The bell-tower and its cock

At about year 410, Goths invade the Roman empire, they have habit to raise cocks on the towers of the places which they subject.

We suppose that then the use had just installed a cock in the shape of wind vane on the bell-towers of the churches. This tradition continues obviously in the village of Leers.

In 1703 the cock appears above the cross of the bell-tower on the famous representational plan of lands and heritages located at Leers and Néchin.

In April 1883, the architect F. Deregnaucourt addresses to Mr Salembier D'Halluin, mayor of the commune, an estimate for the repair of the tower, the arrow and the roof, this estimate is approved in prefecture on July 23rd, 1884. It is mentioned "painting and redorure of the cock"

During the second world war the bell-tower of the church sudden of important damage as the report made by the architect Marcel Spender indicates : "the damage caused by the bombardments and explosions of the roads in May 1940, many slates are broken by the fall of splinters of shell from the Anti-Aircraft Defence.

The bell-tower particularly suffered and of many fragment crossed it. Mister the mayor E. Duez, Mister the priest Paul Devulder must manage these events and a new cock is realized in copper of 75x55 cm by the company Robert Maquet in Roubaix.

On the tail of the cock we can read the following inscription: "JE SUI NE LE 18 .. 4 .. 1944 " which indicates the date of its realization.

After the events of year 1960 in connection with "for or against" the maintenance of the church and of its tower, the cock is finally descended on November 25, 1961 to be renovated.

On December 20, 1962, the cock is fixed at the top of a cross of 1 m 90 and we fixe on his back a lightning conductor.

On February 27, 2007, the architect Nathalie T' Kint, decides to remove it again for a bit from toilet. After a few days, it reconquered its place at the top of the church on March 16, 2007 to 50 m height.