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Church of Sacré-Cœur
Religious building, Listed or registered (CNMHS), Historic site and monument
in Fort-de-France
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The church, a miniature replica of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre basilica, Paris, France was built on the site of a rudimentary old chapel, where one of the city's two vicars came to officiate once or twice a week.
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Balata was then considered by the Foyalais as a distant countryside, into which the refugees of Saint-Pierre flowed in 1902. The distance which separates Fort-de-France from this place of worship as well as the increase of the population of the district and its surroundings decided Monseigneur Parel to build a new religious center detached from the parish of Fort-de-France.
A parishioner gave the bishopric a property on which there was a small house near the chapel, while another offered...Balata was then considered by the Foyalais as a distant countryside, into which the refugees of Saint-Pierre flowed in 1902. The distance which separates Fort-de-France from this place of worship as well as the increase of the population of the district and its surroundings decided Monseigneur Parel to build a new religious center detached from the parish of Fort-de-France.
A parishioner gave the bishopric a property on which there was a small house near the chapel, while another offered land for the construction of a presbytery. Upon his appointment in 1915, Monseigneur Lequien took charge of the project: he wanted to make Montmartre a memorial for fallen soldiers. A committee was then created to raise funds. Donations poured in, and those who could not participate financially offered their labour force. Father Bernard Arosteguy, a Spiritan professor at the Séminaire Collège, was appointed head of works and director of the review Le Montmartre martiniquais. The building was built on the Morne Savon.
The first stone was blessed in 1924, and the inauguration took place on August 9th 1925. The vicar general blessed the new sanctuary before ten thousand worshippers.
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