3-011-718 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

New English church at St. Pierre, Calais, 1862. 'This elegant edifice has been recently erected for the use of the English operatives employed in the lace factories at St. Pierre...strange as it may seem, one-tenth of the population of St. Pierre is English - chiefly lace-makers from Nottingham and from Scotland...The destitute condition of these people, cut off from all spiritual provision, attracted the attention of the promoters of the Colonial and Continental Church Society...[as] it was felt that a church was greatly needed...The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge granted £100; several liberal donations were given in England; and a considerable sum was subscribed locally...and finally, on Nov. 5, the church was opened, with English and French services...The interior is seated to hold 450 persons, a large portion of the area being free. The whole church was erected for the moderate sum of £800, the undertaking having been with the architect and builder veritably a labour of love'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.