Origin and history
The church of Saint Martin de Luché, located in Luché-Pringé in the Sarthe, finds its origins in the fourth century, mentioned among the parishes founded by Saint Liboire, bishop of Le Mans. Its strategic location near a ford on the Loir made it an ancient place of worship, probably dedicated to Saint Apolline, as evidenced by the adjacent well fed by a source under the choir. The present building was rebuilt from the 11th century by the monks of Saint-Aubin d'Angers Abbey, after a donation in 1057 by Raoul V, Viscount of Maine, and his wife Emmeline. The adjacent priory, flourishing with successive gifts, was confirmed by Popes Pascal II and Eugene III, as well as by the bishops of Le Mans.
The choir, completed in 1225, illustrates the Gothic style of Angelvin with its vaults "Plantagenet" and its fine stone columns of Chauvigny. In the 16th century, the church was enlarged by a transept, financed by donors such as Geoffroy II de Chemens and Martha de Baif, sister of the poet John Antoine de Baif. The nave, rebuilt at the same time, was partially destroyed by a fire in 1921, caused by lightning. Only the vault of the choir survived, and the nave was only partially restored, leaving room for a parvis to the west.
Ranked a historic monument in 1913, the church houses remarkable furniture, including wooden statues, stone and terracotta, some classified. Among them is a 16th century Deplore of Christ, a 14th century Virgin with Child, and a 1668 terracotta Saint Martin. The stained glass windows of the choir, made in 1876 by François Fialeix, represent biblical scenes, while those of the nave, abstract, date back to 2001. The building, marked by post-Second World War transformations, remains an active place of worship within the parish of La Flèche-Bazouges-sur-le-Loir.
The church's history is also that of its protectors: saved from the destruction during the Revolution by three inhabitants, it was restored to worship in 1813 thanks to imperial decrees signed in Paris and Moscow. After the 1921 fire, its reconstruction was long (1921-1929) due to the financial and material difficulties of the post-war period. Today, it retains medieval elements, such as its Gothic-Renaissance portal representing Saint Martin's Charity, as well as Merovingian remains, including a sarcophagus classified in 1988.
The bell tower, rebuilt in the 16th century in tuffeau stone, houses three bells, including a fondue in 1925 and two repatriates from Algeria in 1966. The interior reveals an 18th century choir fence, hexagonal baptismal fonts offered in 1929, and a neo-Gothic high altar designed in 1996 by a monk of Solesmes. The church, still active, embodies almost a thousand years of religious, artistic and community history in Anjou.
The successive excavations and restorations revealed architectural and sculptural elements, such as statues attributed to Michel Colombe or his nephew, discovered in the walls of the village in the 1950s. These works, often damaged by time or fire, were restored in the 20th century, preserving a unique heritage combining Gothic, Renaissance and modern influences.
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