The Action of the Societe Chretienne du Nord in the Coal-Mining Basin of the Pas-de-Calais in the XIXth Century (A Testimony)

In the middle of the XIXth century coal mines are first being opened in the department of the Pas-de-Calais. Teams of managers and engineers thus arrive, together with the future coal-miners, who for the most part used to live on the land. Some of them belong to the Reformed Church (engineers from the Gard department who found their way to Lievin, Belgian coal-miners). In 1845, the Societe Chretienne Protestante du Nord is established, within the framework of the 1802 Concordat. A current of thought within the Protestant creed wishes to see the 'good news' (i.e. the Gospel) shared with the workers' families. The clergymen and the evangelists seek to improve and moralize the workers' everyday life (creation of aid societies, fight against alcohol abuse). 4 places of worship and reunion are established around 1885-1888 in Bruay, Lievin, Lens-Wingles, Henin-Lietard, which serve a community of about 1,000 members at the end of the century. Relationships with the Catholic Church are non-existent, or sometimes hostile. The agreement with the trade unions remains fortuitous. Then came the war, and nearly everything got wrecked. Reconstruction starts around 1920.