Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Phal de Gy-l'Évêque, located in the department of Yonne in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, stands out for its 13th century facade, initially higher and decorated with two Romanesque windows. This monument experienced a tragic event on December 3, 1924, when it collapsed in the middle of the day, burying the high altar and its Renaissance stalls. Fortunately, no wounded were to be deplored, and only the facade remained standing, bearing witness to its medieval architecture.

After the collapse, the church was classified as a historical monument in 1925 for its ruins and portal. Father Verdier, parish priest-dean of Coulanges-la-Vineuse, devoted his life to trying to rebuild it, without success in his lifetime. It was finally Jean Meunier who, with the support of the local municipalities and the association Le Christ aux neties, managed to finance the restoration work. The walls were consolidated, the nave and the choir covered, and stained glass windows installed by the master glassmaker Defert d'Auxerre. The works were discreetly completed, giving the building its cultural function.

Today, the Saint-Phal church embodies the resilience of a local heritage preserved by the commitment of actors such as Jean Meunier and the artisans of Joigny and Auxerre. Classified for its architectural elements (portal, crows, ruins), it remains a symbol of Gy-l'Évêque's collective memory, while illustrating the challenges of preserving rural historic monuments in France.

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