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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Germain de Manchère church, classified as a historic monument since 12 July 1886, is an emblematic building of Norman religious architecture. It is distinguished by its 11th century choir and bell tower, built under the influence of the Giffard, a powerful ducal family descendant of Rollon. The latter dominated a fief including Manchère, before settling in Longueville in 1055. The Priory of Sainte-Foy, dependent on the Giffards, then extended its jurisdiction over the parish, marking the beginning of the construction of the present church, which replaced a chapel and an earlier temple.

In the 12th century, the nave was rebuilt in Norman Romanesque style, characterized by carved capitals typical of the region. The sixteenth century saw the addition of a Gothic chapel, commissioned in 1553 by Jehan Leroux, called Blampain, abbot and descendant of the lords of Mouchy, a local fief. This chapel became the sanctuary of his family, including the Senecals, lawyers and collectors of the salt attic of Harfleur, until the 19th century. Local noble families, like those of the Herbouville fief, were buried there, testifying to its central role in community and religious life.

The church experienced periods of neglect, especially during the Revolution, when its priest, exiled for refusing to take the oath, let the building deteriorate. Closed to the public for years, it was restored from 1988, revealing a millennial fresco on the ceiling of the choir. The stained glass windows, replaced in 1969 by Bernard Legrand, and the contemporary works gave the church its glory, making it a symbol of Romanesque and Gothic art in Normandy.

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