Initial construction XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Building of the original church and foothills.
XVe siècle
Patronage by Deols
Patronage by Deols XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Abbaye de Déols exercises patronage.
XVIIe siècle
Transfer to Evaux
Transfer to Evaux XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Provost of Evaux takes over the patronage.
14 octobre 1963
MH classification
MH classification 14 octobre 1963 (≈ 1963)
Registration for Historic Monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Church, located in the village of Bellefaye (Box D 506): inscription by order of 14 October 1963
Key figures
Abbaye de Déols - Religious institution
Patron the church in the 15th century.
Prévôté d'Evaux - Church institution
Manages patronage in the 17th century.
Évêché de Limoges - Diocesan Authority
Then hold the patronage.
Origin and history
The church of Saint-André-de-Bellefaye, located in the village of Bellefaye in Soumans (Creuse), is a 13th century religious building. It is distinguished by its unique nave with a straight bedside, vaulted in a broken cradle, and a double arch separating the choir from the rest of the building. The latter rests on pillars backed with chamfered imposte, while a bell tower with two bays dominates the west facade. The original foothills, placed at the junction of the spans, bear witness to medieval construction, the others having been added or reworked later.
Over the centuries, the patronage of the church evolved: exercised in the 15th century by the abbey of Deols, it passed in the 17th century to the provost of Evaux, before being attached to the bishopric of Limoges. These changes reflect local religious and political dynamics. The building, inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 14 October 1963, now belongs to the municipality of Sumans. Its sober architecture, typical of limousine rural churches, illustrates the adaptation of religious buildings to the needs of medieval communities.
The location of the church, reported with average accuracy (5/10), places the building in the heart of the village of Bellefaye, at approximate address 17 Bellefaye, 23600 Soumans. Although communal property, information on its accessibility (visits, services) remains undocumented in available sources. Its inscription in the title of Historical Monuments, however, underscores its heritage importance in the religious and architectural landscape of the Creuse.
