Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in Saint-Pierre-de-Bailleul was founded in the Middle Ages, linked to the abbey of Saint-Ouen de Rouen. Founded under the patronage of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul by the religious of Saint-Ouen, it became the heart of a Benedictine priory in the 11th century. The site, rich in vineyards like Cailloutin, is enriched by donations and acquisitions between the 12th and 13th centuries, attracting pilgrims to the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce sanctuary, one of the oldest in the upper Seine basin.

In the 15th century, Cardinal Amboise, Archbishop of Rouen and Minister of Louis XII, financed three statues in the church, representing the king, Queen Anne of Brittany and himself. His nephew, the second cardinal of Amboise, and the Abbey of Saint-Ouen rebuilt the current building in the 16th century. The priory, who became Barony of Grace, then declined: in the 16th century, the religious left the place, and the abbey rented the land to farmers, while the priest received one sixth of the tithes.

The church, partially rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries (turn, north side, facade), houses a 17th century altarpiece and a classified bell, melted by Nicolas Buret and blessed between 1604 and 1615 in the presence of the primate of Normandy François de Joyeuse. The site, registered with the historic monuments in 1961, bears witness to the religious and seigneurial influence in the region, between Viking heritage, Norman ducal power and royal patronage.

The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce chapel, associated with a so-called miraculous source, and the washes of the village recall the importance of pilgrimages and community life around this place. During the Revolution, the commune, renamed "Unity", retained its heritage despite political upheavals. In the 20th century, the painter Tal Coat settled there, adding an artistic dimension to this site full of history.

External links