First mention of the chapel 1521 (≈ 1521)
Registration on a calvary attesting to its existence.
1553
Reconstruction of the church
Reconstruction of the church 1553 (≈ 1553)
Date engraved on the current building.
1594
Construction of the ossuary
Construction of the ossuary 1594 (≈ 1594)
Date on the northwest ossuary.
1696
Reconstruction of the bell tower
Reconstruction of the bell tower 1696 (≈ 1696)
First documented reconstruction after destruction.
1718
Bell struck by lightning
Bell struck by lightning 1718 (≈ 1718)
Rebuilding of the upper gallery.
1833
Destruction of the bell tower arrow
Destruction of the bell tower arrow 1833 (≈ 1833)
Reconstruction after a new lightning impact.
1990
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 1990 (≈ 1990)
Protection of the church and its enclosure.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Church and all its enclosure, with the floors, comprising: the fence wall with the south and east walls of the presbytery, the portals, the church Notre-Dame and the sacristy, the two calvaries and the ossuary (Box B 80 to 83): classification by order of 9 October 1990
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any named historical actor.
Origin and history
The church Notre-Dame de Pencran is part of a typical parish enclosure in Brittany, located in the commune of Pencran (Finistère). This set includes, besides the church itself, a sacristy, two ordeals and an ossuary. The current building, dated by an inscription of 1553, seems to be a reconstruction, because another inscription on a calvary attests to the existence of a chapel as early as 1521. Originally a branch of Ploudiry, it became an independent parish under the Concordat. The south porch, decorated with the statues of the twelve apostles, and the bell tower rebuilt several times (1696, 1718, 1833) illustrate its architectural evolution.
The bell tower, struck by lightning twice (1718 and 1833), maintains an exceptional bell dating from 1365, prior to the construction of the current building. The ossuary, dated 1594, and the three-cross calvary (symbolizing Christ and the two larrons) reflect the Breton religious art of the sixteenth century. The ensemble, classified as a historical monument in 1990, bears witness to the importance of parish enclosures in the community and spiritual life of the Brittany of Ancien Régime.
The location of the enclosure around the church also includes a fence wall, gates and elements of the presbytery. These features make it a remarkable example of Breton religious architecture, marked by successive reconstructions and rich Christian symbolism. The exact address, Church Square in Pencran, confirms its anchoring in the heart of the historic village.
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