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Origin and history

The church Saint-Clair de Vaudes is a religious building whose structure dates mainly from the 12th century, although two thirds of its construction date from the 16th century. It is distinguished by its furniture and glass windows of the same period, as well as by notable works such as a Virgin of pity in painted limestone and a Virgin with Child in 14th century limestone. A manuscript called Saint Clair is also preserved, offering a detailed commentary on the stained glass windows of the building.

Historically, the parish of Vaudes depended on the great dean of Troyes, with Montceaux as its branch. One local particularity was the division of the village into two parts: one depended on the parish of Saint-Clair and the other on the parish of Saint-Thibaud. This division reflected a complex ecclesiastical and territorial organization, typical of medieval and modern countryside. In 1690, Odard de Villeprouvé financed the construction of a tomb in the church for his brother Claude and Nicole Honel, his wife, illustrating the practices of patronage and aristocratic commemoration of the time.

The church thus embodies centuries of religious and architectural history, mixing medieval heritage and reborn. Its furniture, glass windows and sculptures bear witness to the sacred art of Champagne, while reflecting the social and spiritual dynamics of the rural communities of the region. The preservation of an explanatory manuscript of stained glass also underlines the symbolic and pedagogical importance of these elements in the liturgy and local devotion.

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