Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Genulf Church, also known as Saint-Charles Church, is a religious building located in Thureil, Maine-et-Loire department. Originally dedicated to Saint Genulfe (or Saint Genou), it was later placed under the name of Saint Charles. Its origins date back to the 11th and 12th centuries, as evidenced by its oldest architectural elements, including the bell tower and apse, protected by successive rankings in 1905 and 1913.

In 2019, the church underwent a major artistic renovation with the installation of eight stained glass windows designed by writer Tahar Ben Jelloun and made by master glassmaker Philippe Brissy. These modern creations, inaugurated on November 30, 2019, replace the old 19th century stained glass windows. Tahar Ben Jelloun, an artist of Muslim culture, stressed the symbolic dimension of this project, stressing the complementarity of the religions of the Book in a context marked by interreligious tensions.

The project was led by three figures: Tahar Ben Jelloun, Philippe Brissy, and Jérôme Clément, former President of Arte and member of the Thureil City Council. The latter played a key role in soliciting the writer, highlighting the desire to create a dialogue between cultures and epochs through this historic edifice. The church, owned by the commune, remains a place of worship and heritage, illustrating the fusion between medieval heritage and contemporary creation.

The protections of the building specifically concern the bell tower (classified in 1905) and the former apse (classified in 1931). These elements, characteristic of the 11th and 12th centuries, testify to the architectural and historical importance of the monument in the Pays de la Loire region. The exact address of the church, according to the available data, is associated with the municipality of Thoureil, although some sources mention an approximate location in Gennes-Val-de-Loire, possibly reflecting territorial or administrative adjustments.

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