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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin de Deux-Évailles is located in Montsûrs, Mayenne, in the Pays de la Loire. It is dedicated to Martin de Tours, an emblematic saint of Christianity in France. The current neo-Roman-style building was built between 1891 and 1896 according to the plans of architect Jean Camille Formigé, under the direction of Louis Garnier. It replaces an ancient Romanesque church, still standing in the late 19th century, but demolished shortly afterwards.

The old church, more modest, had a facade with a double-bayed Romanesque pinacle for bells. Its ogival door, not original, led to a narrower nave and choir, decorated with an 18th century altar dedicated to the Virgin. Among the remarkable elements were statues of Martin de Tours, Saint Stephen and Saint Barbe, as well as a painting depicting a Descent of the Cross. Two side chapels dedicated to Saint Anne and the Virgin were added at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The church was acquired in 1796 by Jean Delahaye to preserve it, before finally being shaved in 1907, leaving only remains of its foundations.

The present church is distinguished by its porch supported by pilasters and columns, and a main nave flanked by strollers separated by granite arches. The original vaults extend in point to marry the double arches. Outside, the choir windows are decorated with marble columns recovered from the altars of the old church. A 17th century ostensoir, offered by Georges Gamard, enriches the furniture heritage. The 1906 inventory marked an episode of local resistance, with a protest from the factory advisers and benefactors against the entry of the agents.

Pilgrimages, like that of Saint-Mathieu for eight days, testify to the religious importance of the place. The architecture and decorative elements, such as the Lavallian altarpiece today destroyed, reflect the artistic and spiritual evolution of the region, between medieval heritage and 19th century renewal.

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