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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de Cozes, located in the Charente-Maritime department, has its origins in the 12th century, although its current construction begins mainly in the 13th century. Originally owned by the Augustinian abbey Saint-Étienne de Mortagne, it is marked by architectural additions such as a flat bedside pierced by a triplet in the 14th century and an octagonal bell tower built in the 15th century. The latter initially housed seven bells, five of which were melted in 1877 by the Guillaume d'Angers foundry, forming an exceptional sound ensemble in fa major.

The building has undergone several major transformations and events. In 1548 his bells were confiscated and taken to Royan Castle to suppress the revolt of the Pitauds, a local jacquerie. The vaults of the nave, collapsed in 1756, were reconstructed summarily in the 19th century, while the facade, of neoclassical inspiration, also dates from this period. The church preserves medieval elements such as historical capitals of the thirteenth century and an external frieze evoking the fable Le Renard and the Cigogne.

In the 19th century, the cemetery surrounding the church was moved in 1862-1863, and the square was renovated. In 2000, the stained glass windows were restored, and an access ramp for disabled people was installed. However, in 2018, structural problems (roof collapse, infiltration) led to its closure. Thanks to a €140 000 contribution from the Heritage Lotto in 2020, rehabilitation works, estimated at €2.5 million, have been undertaken to save this monument listed in the Historic Monuments since 1925.

The church's furniture reflects its centuries-old history, with an eighteenth-century pulpit, originally destined for the church of Sainte-Colombe de Saintes before being acquired by the parish priest of Cozes. The five current bells, cast in 1877, are unique in Charente-Maritime: melted simultaneously by a single fondeur, they offer a rare sound harmony. Their agreement in fa major and their metallic homogeneity make it a remarkable campanary heritage.

The Church of Saint Peter thus illustrates the architectural, political and social evolutions of the region, from the peasant revolts of the sixteenth century to the contemporary restorations, including the liturgical and urban transformations of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

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