Starting in 1850, the population of the city began to grow, with the expansion of the railway facilitating movement and travel. This increase in residents made the construction of a new church a pressing necessity.
Abbé Anicet Godin, the dean of Albert in 1879, embraced this challenge as his grand project, collaborating with the Amiens architect, Edmond Duthoit, in 1883 to bring his vision to life. To help finance this ambitious endeavor, the creation of the newspaper “Le messager de Notre-Dame de Brebières” proved instrumental.
Anicet Godin was relentless in his quest for funding, going so far as to go door-to-door among the people of Albert, selling subscriptions to the newspaper, as well as stones and bricks for the church's construction. His dedication was so intense that the townsfolk affectionately dubbed him the "beggar of Albert." Despite this moniker, he was held in high regard by the residents for his kindness and unwavering commitment to the community.