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  3. Normandie
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  5. 61000 Alençon

  6. Saint Peter's Church of Alençon

 Saint Peter's Church of Alençon dans l'Orne

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine religieux
Eglise néo-gothique
Orne

Saint Peter's Church of Alençon

    37 Rue du Mans
    61000 Alençon
Église Saint-Pierre dAlençon
Église Saint-Pierre dAlençon
Crédit photo : Frederic.bd - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
1875
Architectural competition
1879
Destruction of the old church
1880
Start of work
1889
Church completion
1919
Baptism of Marcel Denis
2006
Registration historical monument
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The entire church (Box BP 111): inscription by order of 20 December 2006

Key figures

Amédée Hédin - Initial architect Winner of the 1875 competition.
Pierre Lheureux - Successor architect Finished construction after Hedin.
Frères Eugène et Edouard Stoltz - Organ factors Organ installed in 1890.
Marie Martin - Sister of Saint Thérèse Baptized in this church.
Léonie Martin - Sister of Saint Thérèse Baptized in this church.
Marcel Denis - Blessed Martyr Baptized in 1919 in the church.
Facchina - Mosaic workshop Realized the interior mosaics.
André Barillet - Decorative painter Author of Marian paintings.

Origin and history

The Saint-Pierre d'Alençon church, located in the Montsort district, was built between 1880 and 1889 to replace a previous Saint-Pierre church destroyed in 1879. A competition launched in 1875 was won by the local architect Amédée Hédin, whose neo-roman project with three naves, front bell tower and choir to walk away was finally carried out under the direction of Pierre Lheureux, after his replacement. The works began in 1880, with a final phase in 1888-1889 including sacristy and interior decoration, marked by mosaics of the Facchina workshop and paintings by André Barillet, centered on Marian worship.

The church is a place of notable religious memory: two sisters of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux, Marie and Léonie Martin, are baptized there, as are Blessed Marcel Denis in 1919, martyr of Laos, who also received his first communion (1930) and his confirmation. Its organ, built in 1890 by the Stoltz brothers, and its inscription in historical monuments in 2006 underline its heritage importance. The neo-Roman style and decorative elements reflect the artistic and devotional influences of the late 19th century, especially around Marian veneration.

The initial project, designed by Hedin and led by Lheureux, illustrates the architectural dynamics of the period, mixing urban reconstruction and religious identity. The mosaics and paintings, made by renowned artisans such as Facchina and Barillet, are part of a precise iconographic program, celebrating Marian figures such as Bernadette Soubirous or Simon Stock. These artistic choices reflect a desire to create a sacred space that is both modern and rooted in tradition, meeting the expectations of an active Catholic community in Alençon.

The inscription of the building in 2006 as a historic monument recognizes its architectural value and its role in local history. The Montsort district, where it is located, thus enjoys an emblematic heritage, linked to major spiritual figures and a preserved artistic heritage. The organ of the Stoltz brothers, still in place, adds a musical dimension to this place, reinforcing its multifunctional character in the religious and cultural life of Alençon.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum