Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Cholet, located in the Maine-et-Loire department, is a Romano-Byzantin-style religious building built between 1937 and 1941. Designed by the architect Maurice Laurentin, it is distinguished by its innovative use of reinforced concrete, dressed in local materials: brick, orange shale (Pineau stone), pink granite of Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges and blue granite of Vezins. Historically, cement for the Atlantic Wall has been diverted for construction. His basilical plan and dome evoked Romano-Byzantine buildings, while his funding was based on donations from Choletese families and quests organized by Abbé Louis Cesbron, the future parish priest.

The decoration of the church includes several renowned artists: Charles Maillard (sculptures), Fernand Dupré (local practitioner), Charles Mauméjean (mosaic and stained glass), and Henri Génévrier (wall paintings under the pseudonym Grand-Aigle). The large interior fresco, inspired by the phrase "When I have been raised from earth, I will draw everything to myself!" chosen by Abbé Cesbron, dominates space. Among the remarkable elements, the altar of Saint Joseph, made of wood and in the form of established, pays tribute to the carpenter's profession of Saint Joseph. The stained glass windows, including the "stained glass of the good" financed by domestic workers, as well as the 39 bells of the original carillon (extended to 49 in 2011), highlight community engagement.

The church was blessed on October 26, 1941 by Jean Camille Costes, bishop of Angers, after four years of work. Ranked a historic monument in 1991, it underwent major restorations: the arrow in 2012, the stained glass windows in 2016, and the carillon in 2011, the latter being itself ranked since 2003. The carillon, originally criticized for its noise during Sunday naps, is today a major heritage element, ranked 16th among the French carillons. The building remains an active place of worship and is visited in summer, thanks to volunteers who share its history and architectural secrets.

Three priests succeeded him: Louis Cesbron (1942–1955), Léon Quinton (1955–1971), and Étienne Pantais (1971–1977). The church also symbolizes a social heritage, with figures like Julie Boidron, a household worker who raised funds among the servants, or Dr. Sourice, a notable benefactor. Its architecture and history reflect both a strong local faith and a technical audacity for the time, mixing tradition and modernity.

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