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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Aignan de Chartres derives its name from the bishop of Orléans Aignan (Vth century), who founded there a first pre-Romane church, replaced after several fires (XII and XIII centuries). As a parish of the Counts of Blois and Chartres, it was rebuilt in the 14th century in Gothic style, as evidenced by its main portal, modest because of the narrowness of medieval alleys. His bedside was based on the walls of the ninth century, then disused.

The present building, erected at the beginning of the sixteenth century, combines flamboyant Gothic elements (pillars, tympanums) and Renaissance influences (colonets to the antique). The crypt, illuminated by windows overlooking Rue Saint-Pierre, dates from the late 15th century. The initial project provided a vault for the nave, never realized, and unfinished bows remained on the facades. The side turret, connected by a staircase in 1541, was completed by a gallery in 1625 under Louis XIII.

During the Revolution, the church became a national good, serving in turn as a military hospital, prison, and then a forage store, saving it from destruction. Made to worship in 1822, it was restored in 1869 by Émile Boeswillwald, a collaborator of Viollet-le-Duc, who added romantic polychrome frescoes. Since 1988, measuring instruments have been monitoring its structure, weakened by the risk of falling stones (July 2024).

The interior houses 20 classified glass windows, including 16th century stained glass windows (religious scenes, arms of donor families such as the Chaline or Godeffroy) and creations of the Lorin workshops (XIXth century). The axial chapel, dedicated to the Virgin, is framed by stained glass from 1857. Six paintings (XVIe–XVIIe centuries) and a Merklin organ (XIXe) complete its furniture. The church, attached to the parish of Notre-Dame de Chartres, has been served since 2008 by the Priestly Fraternity Saint-Pierre.

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