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Origin and history

The church of Saint John the Baptist of Fontenay-le-Comte, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, found its origins in the 11th century with a first primitive church. The current building, built mainly between 1425 and 1450, replaces this old structure. The side chapels, added in the 19th century, complete its architecture. The church is a typical example of late Gothic in Vendée, with marked regional influences.

During the Wars of Religion, the church suffered serious damage: looted by the Huguenots in 1568, its pillars were undermined and its vaults collapsed. An inscription in the south side attests to its rebuilding in 1604, after decades of ruins. The wooden vaults, originally rebuilt, were replaced by stone vaults between 1635 and 1637, as evidenced by the dates engraved on the vault keys.

The French Revolution marked a troubled period for the church. In 1792 his bells were sent to La Rochelle to be melted, and the building served as a cantonment for the troops in 1793. Iconoclastic acts multiply: confessionals become healers, and the rooster of the bell tower is replaced by a phrygian hat. The church was not restored to worship until 1798, after hosting republican assemblies.

In the 19th century, the church was the object of several restoration campaigns. In 1843, a sacristy was built, and in 1846, the pavement was redone with stones from the Black Head. Two transepts were added in 1860 to strengthen the structure, while the octagonal arrow, inspired by that of Notre-Dame, was repaired in the early twentieth century. The purpose of this work is to adapt the building to the needs of an expanded parish after the Revolution.

Ranked a historic monument in 1906, the church continues to benefit from restorations in the 20th century. In 1926-1932 the vaults of the nave were consolidated, and in 1938 the lightning rod was replaced after damage caused by a storm. In 1966, the pulpit and the Holy Table were removed to install a wooden altar, and in 1995 a new organ was built by Father Vité.

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