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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur d'Issy-l'Évêque, located in the department of Saône-et-Loire in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is a religious building whose construction dates back to the 12th century according to historian G. Valat. It would have been built at the initiative of the bishops of Autun, on the site of a pre-existing chapel. Its architecture, typical of the Burgundian Romanesque style of the late Romanesque period, is distinguished by a nave of six spans, collaterals and three apsidioles, without transept. The square bell tower, dominating the first span, and the western porch, rebuilt at the end of the 19th century, bear witness to the architectural changes suffered by the building.

Ranked a historical monument by decree of 31 October 1912, the church was the object of several works: in 1815 (refection of the north face and the bell tower), in 1853 (renovation of the attic and the nave), and in 1874 (construction of the porch). The adjacent cemetery was created only in the seventeenth century, illustrating the evolution of local funeral practices. Inside, the stone master altar of Corton, installed in 1968 and designed by Michel Bouillot, modernizes the liturgical space while subscribing to the local tradition.

Today, the church of Saint James the Majeur remains an active Catholic place of worship, attached to the diocese of Autun and the parish of the Good Shepherd. Its furniture and architecture reflect both its medieval heritage and the successive adaptations to liturgical and community needs. The presence of dark sandstone, a typical material of the region, and the imposing length of the building (45 meters) underline its historical and symbolic importance for the municipality of Issy-the Bishop.

Historical sources, such as Raymond Oursel's work or the diocesan archives, confirm his central role in the religious and social life of the region since the Middle Ages. Legal protections and regular restorations attest to the desire to preserve this heritage, both a witness to Burgundy Romanesque art and a living place of devotion.

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