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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Denis in Hodenc-en-Bray, located in the Oise region of Hauts-de-France, consists of a 14th century nave and a flamboyant Gothic choir of the 16th century. The nave, built of stoneware, has a panelled structure decorated with polychrome geometrical motifs, while the choir, financed by the Montceaux family, is distinguished by its height, brightness and vaults with liernes and thirdons. The baptismal fonts of the eleventh century attest to an earlier place of worship, but the present building mainly reflects the late and renaissant medieval transformations.

The choir, built at the beginning of the sixteenth century under the impulse of John II of Montceaux, governor of Artois and treasurer of Picardie, serves as a burial for his family. Its generous dimensions contrast with the modesty of the village, and its sober but elegant architecture incorporates annotating elements of the Renaissance, such as the low-hanging windows. The nave, which is older and devoid of low-sides, preserves a 14th century rosacea and a north side gate open to the old cemetery, today a public space.

Ranked a historic monument in 1995 only, the church has enjoyed rare restorations, thus preserving its authenticity. Its 16th century stained glass windows, restored between 1989 and 1992, illustrate religious scenes such as the Crucifixion or the Adoration of Shepherds. The furniture includes 15th-17th century statues, including a Saint Denis cephalophore and a Virgin with Child, as well as funeral slabs of the lords of Montceaux. The building, affiliated with the parish of La Trinité in Bray, remains a remarkable example of the rural sacred art of Hauts-de-France.

Outside, the contrast between the rustic nave and the imposing choir is striking. The western facade, described as a "slope", supports a steeple with an original arrow, while the choir, with foothills adorned with pinnacles, dominates the village. The wooden porch of the side gate, probably built with re-use beams, and the stone cross of the old cemetery underline the historic character of the site. Despite its architectural interest, the church has long remained unknown, as evidenced by its late ranking.

The history of Hodenc-en-Bray, poorly documented before the late Middle Ages, lights up through this monument. The family of Montceaux, by acquiring the seigneury in 1481, permanently marked the local landscape by this ambitious choir, reflecting its power and piety. Gallo-Roman traces attest to an ancient occupation, but it is the medieval era that shapes the identity of the village, around its church, cemetery and castle today disappeared. The building, though modest in size, thus embodies the social and artistic dynamics of Picardia between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

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