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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul d'Épineux-le-Seguin is a Catholic building located in the department of Mayenne, Pays de la Loire. It is distinguished by its built-up bell tower and its location at the edge of the departmental road 7, in the village of Epineux-le-Seguin. Its architecture combines a Romanesque nave, partially collapsed in 1558, and a Gothic-style choir, separated by a broken arch bay pierced in a thick wall. The tower, placed between the nave and the choir, also served as a chapel dedicated to Saint Louis since 1627.

The history of the church is marked by religious events and local peripets. From 1506 and 1515, Popes Julius II and Leo X granted indulgences to donors contributing to his beautification and maintenance, particularly for the acquisition of liturgical objects. In 1627, a robbery was perpetrated: chests containing sacred ornaments were forced before the construction of the sacristy. On October 8, 1780, the Bishop of Le Mans, Monsignor of Gonsan, confirmed 330 faithful, testifying to his central role in local spiritual life.

The French Revolution marks a turning point for the parish, known among the most refractory of Mayenne. In 1793, the absence of a sworn priest led to the order to remove the bells within 24 hours. Despite these turbulences, the church retains remarkable elements: three 18th-century altars dedicated to the Virgin, St Julien and St Anne, made by architect Lalande in 1766. The statues, decorated in 1707 by Pierre Lorcet, and a altarpiece adorned with a canvas inspired by Rubens (the Adoration of the Magi) enrich his interior. The pulpit, the work of carpenter Perret in 1785, completes this artistic heritage.

The 1906 inventory and historical references, such as the Dictionnaire de la Mayenne (Angot and Gaugain, 1900-1910), document its heritage importance. The church thus embodies both an active place of worship and a witness to the architectural, religious and social evolutions of the region, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

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