Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Étienne de Perriers-sur-Andelle found its origins in the 11th century, when the parish and its estate were given to the abbey of Saint-Ouen de Rouen in 1050 by Guillaume, Count of Arques, and his brother Mauger, archbishop. The present building, of cruciform plan, preserves from this Romanesque era the transept, the tower bell tower on the cross, and the walls of the nave, built in flint. These founding elements reflect the influence of the Abbey, which was its patron until the Revolution.

In the 13th century, foothills were added to the nave to strengthen the structure, while in the 14th century, the cross of the transept was vaulted with dogives and the choir with a flat bedside, marking a transition to the Gothic style. The western facade, destroyed or damaged, was rebuilt after 1868 by architect Simon in a neo-XIII century style, just like the bays of the nave. These 19th-century interventions were part of a movement to restore historical monuments, seeking to find a medieval ideal.

The interior of the church reveals an apparent 16th century structure, decorated with ground sandstones and a painted decoration of the same period, bearing witness to Renaissance art in Normandy. The choir houses an 18th-century painted and gilded altarpiece, as well as a large 19th-century glass window by Duhamel-Marette, a glass painter. These furniture and decorative elements illustrate the evolution of artistic and liturgical tastes throughout the centuries, while emphasizing the central role of the church in local community life.

Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 21 November 2000, the Saint-Étienne church remains owned by the commune of Perriers-sur-Andelle. Its composite architecture, combining Romanesque, Gothic and modern restorations, makes it a remarkable example of Norman religious heritage, marked by the influences of the Rouennais abbeys and the successive adaptations to the cultural and aesthetic needs.

External links