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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-la-Neuve church in Chemillé-en-Anjou (formerly Chemillé-Melay, Maine-et-Loire) was built at the initiative of the parish priest Brémon in the late 19th century. He wished to replace the old church, which was considered too small and degraded. The architectural choice is based on the Gothic Angevin style of the late 12th century, a transitional style between novel and ogival, rare in the region. The building is distinguished by its three absidial chapels: those of the Sacred Heart and Saint Joseph frame the walk-through, while the chapel Our Lady of the Assumption, the main, dominates the central axis.

The mid-height windows of the nave evoke local history and the religious buildings of Chemillé. The organ, built in 1914 by Joseph Merklin, experienced several movements (1946, 1960, 1993) before being installed in the left transept. The church was partially classified as a historical monument in 1862 for its bell tower, then in 1914 (chœur) and 1929 (nef), before a total inscription in 2006. Its bell tower and nave date back to the 11th and 12th centuries, according to the sources, revealing a medieval origin prior to the reconstruction of the 19th century.

The Gothic Angelvin style adopted for the reconstruction of the 19th century is inspired by the buildings of transition between Romanesque and Gothic, characteristic of medieval Anjou. This stylistic choice, unusual for the time of its construction, reflects the desire to create a visual link with the ancient local religious heritage. Side chapels and narrative stained glass windows highlight the church's anchoring in Chemillé's community history, mixing devotion and local memory.

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