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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of St.Martin in Janze came into being in the 11th century, when a first church dedicated to St.Martin was given in 1090 by Raoul de Janze to the Benedictines of the Abbey of Marmoutiers. This priory, called the Franceule, depended on Béré and was confirmed by the bishops Marbode and Hamelin of Rennes. The medieval building, partially Romanesque, included a 17th century nave, a 15th century seigneurial chapel and a Renaissance portal. In 1880, remains of the 11th and 16th centuries were still visible there, including the base of the tower and a bedside with cut strips.

The current reconstruction began in 1874, under the impetus of Bishop Godefroy Brossay-Saint-Marc, who blessed the first stone on 18 October. Designed by the brothers Jules and Henri Mellet (rennais architects authors of the Church of St Martin of Vitré), the new neo-Roman church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart, St Martin and St Peter. The construction site, which was carried out until 1887, cost 450,000 francs, with contributions such as 32,000 francs for stalls and chestnut pulpit, carved by Augier de Vitré, or 15,000 francs for altar of Cachalferoc (Paris).

The building is distinguished by its Latin cross plan, its dome tower and a stone arrow of 67 m. The interior alternate Caen stone, tuffeau of Saumur and grey granite, with a ubiquitous carved decoration (chapitels inspired by Noah's Ark). The historic stained glass windows, made by Champigneulle, incorporate a path of the cross, a rarity. The church was listed as a historical monument on 18 April 2016, recognizing its exceptional architecture and furnishings (master altar, pulpit, stalls).

The bell tower houses four bells, melted by Bollée du Mans and blessed in 1888. The Sacré-Coeur bumblebee (3,300 kg, Sib2) is accompanied by Saint-Martin (2,100 kg), Saint-Pierre (1,350 kg) and the Nation (1,250 kg). The organ, originally portable (Debierre, 20th century), was replaced in 1930 by an instrument by Dom Séjourné (abbé de la Source), rebuilt in 1972 by Yves Sévère. Its oak buffet, housed in the abside, retains a sober aesthetic with 25 apparent pipes.

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