Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-André-et-Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, located in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne in the Ain, is an emblematic monument whose construction begins in 1272 and extends until the 15th century. In a sober Gothic style, it is distinguished by its triangular facade surmounted by an octagonal turret and its framed ogival portal. Built in Savoyard Carrons (local bricks), it incorporates a glass rosace and 19th century stained glass windows illustrating the life of Saint Vincent de Paul, patron saint of the church since 1617. Its bell tower, demolished in 1794 by revolutionary order, was never rebuilt, leaving room for a summary metal cover.

The interior houses major artistic works: a 17th-century wooden Virgin Child, painted statues from the 16th and 18th centuries, and a Saint Sebastian in walnut carved in 1910 by local artist Jean Tarrit. An organ installed in 1996, regularly enriched, animates offices and concerts. The lateral chapel preserves the tomb of Philibert Collet, a former city trustee. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1909, the church has been the subject of a restoration project since 2018 led by the association ARECC, with an architectural diagnosis launched in 2023.

The building illustrates the historical upheavals of the region: revolutionary destruction symbolizing anticlericalism of Year II, but also community resilience around religious heritage. The stained glass windows and statues bear witness to the lasting influence of Saint Vincent de Paul, a major figure in Christian charity, while the use of Savoyard bricks recalls the cultural exchanges between the Bresse and the neighbouring Savoy. The absence of a bell tower, a characteristic shared with other churches in Ain, recalls the legacy of past conflicts.

The ARECC association, made up of volunteers, has been mobilizing funds and skills since 2018 to preserve the building in the face of advanced structural degradation. The diagnosis of 2023, conducted by heritage architects, should make it possible to prioritize the work. This project is part of a local dynamic of valorisation of the heritage, as also evidenced by the classification of the neighbouring halls, another historical monument of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne.

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