Chapelle Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus et de la Sainte-Face, Religious chapel in Hem, France.
The Chapelle Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus et de la Sainte-Face is a chapel in Hem with a concrete bell tower rising above the surrounding workers' houses. The altar is configured to accommodate both traditional rites and Vatican II guidelines.
The textile industrialist Philippe Leclercq funded construction of this chapel between 1956 and 1958 near his residence in the Hempenpont district. The project arose during the post-war period when new religious spaces were being built for growing working-class communities.
The north wall features a stained glass work by Alfred Manessier showing scenes from Saint Therese's life through symbolic colors. This artistic design shapes how visitors experience the interior space.
Visitors should note that the stained glass walls allow daylight to flood the interior, so the experience varies greatly depending on the time of day. It is best to visit during daylight hours to fully appreciate the artistic design.
The interior contains a woven artwork of Christ by Georges Rouault, executed by Jacques Plasse-Le-Caisne and prominently displayed on the apse wall. This work merges painting and textile art in an unusual way and often goes unnoticed by visitors.
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