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Origin and history

Saint-Émilien Church is a Catholic building located in the hamlet of Saint-Émilien-de-Blain, 5 km from the town of Blain, in the Loire-Atlantique. It is distinguished by its cruciform plan, with a nave crossed by a transept and a bell tower. Oriented north-south, it is dedicated to Émilien de Nantes, bishop of Nantes in the 8th century, although its construction dates from the 19th century.

In 1856, inspired by the construction of the Saint-Omer church in the neighbouring commune of Saint-Omer-de-Blain, the inhabitants of Saint-Émilien launched a petition and an subscription to erect their own church. The work was entrusted to architect Liberge, father, and the building was inaugurated in 1861. The parish of Saint-Émilien was officially established, with nearly 800 parishioners.

Unlike other churches in the commune, Saint-Émilien church escapes the destructions of the Second World War, with Blain standing near the front line of the pocket of Saint-Nazaire. This historical context makes it an intact testimony to the religious architecture of the mid-19th century in the region.

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