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Origin and history

Saint Paul de Vivy Church, located in Maine-et-Loire, Anjou, is a Catholic building dedicated to the Apostle Paul. It depends on the diocese of Angers and the parish of Sainte-Thérèse-en-Haute-Vallée. Its history is linked to the displacement of the village of Vieux-Vivy to the hamlet of Deux-Sœurs in the 1830s, marking the birth of a new village.

The construction of the present church began in 1846 according to plans of the Saumur architect Charles Joly-Leterme, known for also having designed the Saumur theatre. It replaces an old church built in 1722, whose stones were reused for the new building. The building adopts a neo-Roman style and is characterized by a Latin cross plan, with a bell tower decorated with grotesque modillons on the cornice.

The church's stained glass windows, made between 1879 and 1881 by the Fournier and Clement de Tours houses, are remarkable for their artistic quality. They incorporate greyberries and enamels, and are inspired by two works by Raphael: Miraculous Fishing and The Coronation of the Virgin. These elements make St Paul's Church a notable example of the 19th century religious and architectural heritage in Anjou.

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