Church of Saint Didier de Chaulnes dans la Somme

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Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Didier de Chaulnes found its origins in the 12th century, when the village already had a parish church housing relics of Saints Philippe Néri, Angel and Didier. This medieval building was entirely rebuilt between 1742 and 1749 in brick and stone, thanks to the generosity of Louis Joseph d'Albert d'Ailly, Duke of Chaulnes. This 18th-century building marked local religious life until its total destruction during the First World War, during the fighting from 1916 to 1918.

The reconstruction of the present church began in 1927, but was complicated by the discovery of a sap, a vestige of the war trenches, under its foundations. The works, led by architect Godefroy Teisseire, were completed in 1930. The new building, made of reinforced concrete and brick, adopted a modern style with a facade decorated with sgraffittes and a quadrangular bell tower. His interior was decorated by renowned artisans, including master glassmaker Raphaël Lardeur and painter Dominique Aldighieri, who left there works inspired by Byzantine art.

The church also houses a memorial to the dead, located behind the high altar, testifying to the loss of life suffered by the community during the conflict. His furniture, such as stalls or ironworks, was made by local craftsmen (Cantrel, Bilz) on the plans of Teisseire. These elements reflect both a desire for modernity and a tribute to the destroyed heritage, within the broader framework of the reconstruction of Picardia after 1918.

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