The 16th century: a handful of God’s indomitable students gather in Paris around a character: Ignacio de Loyola. Their will is to spread the good word and to serve Christ. Together they create a new religious order: “the Society of Jesus”. Recognized by the Pope, they quickly met with great success among the population before turning to teaching. Many schools appeared in the world, a college was established in 1615 in Aire-sur-la-Lys. It was not until much later, in 1688, that a chapel was built. At the same time visible and hidden, the organization kept a large part of the mysteries.
Jesuit teaching will continue in Aire-sur-la-Lys for more than 150 years. Following the suppression of the order in France, the Jesuits had no choice but to leave the building (1762). It is ultimately the military administration that will take possession of the premises to store, among other things, artillery objects. The chapel was then coveted by the city, which eventually became its owner after 50 years of military presence. Now in the hands of the Catholic Church, major restoration work will be undertaken in the 19th century to make it a relief chapel of the parish of Saint-Pierre. It became the parish church from 1944 to 1954 to replace the bombed Saint-Pierre church.
Today, the chapel of Saint-Jacques remains in the heart of Aire-sur-la-Lys. Built for more than 300 years, it has survived the centuries adapting to the tumults of time. History is on its way and God knows what the future holds for it.