Church of Saint Martin de Préaux en Mayenne

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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin de Préaux Church, located in the Mayenne department, is a Catholic building whose history dates back to at least the sixteenth century. It occupies the site of an old church, maintaining similar proportions. Prior to its reconstruction by Pierre Huaumé, it consisted of a simple nave and a Romanesque choir, reworked in the 18th century. The chapel of the castle, dated from the beginning of the 16th century according to a wall inscription, was integrated into the building, while a second chapel was added by the Bois-Robert family. These transformations reflect the architectural evolution and liturgical needs of the parish.

In the 18th century, the church underwent major changes, including the reconstruction of the choir in 1748, followed by the installation of benches between 1774 and 1776. The parish registers, transcribed by Abbé Angot, also mention regular repairs throughout the century. The painted panels of the choir and chapels, representing biblical scenes, as well as a statue of Saint Sebastian offered by M. de Villeneuve between 1774 and 1776, testify to the beautification of the building. The bells, dated 1608 and 1754, also recall the different periods of its history.

The architecture of the church thus blends Romanesque elements, such as the original choir, with more recent additions, such as sacristy, panelling and an altar built under the impulse of M. de Villeneuve. The communication of the castle chapel with the church illustrates the close links between seigneurial power and local religious life. These successive transformations make the Church of Saint Martin a representative example of rural religious heritage, marked by centuries of adaptations and artistic enrichment.

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