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Origin and history

The Saint-Riquier de Fontaine-sur-Somme church, built at the end of the 15th century and at the beginning of the 16th century under the reigns of Charles VIII and Louis XII, combines classical Gothic and flamboyant Gothic styles, especially visible in its northern portal. The latter, decorated with statues of St.Riquier, St.Peter and St.Adrien, as well as royal emblems (porc-epic of Louis XII and salamander of Francis I), bears witness to its historical importance. Gravely damaged in 1940, the church kept only its walls and lost its bells, except Marie Antoinette, saved by the inhabitants.

Ranked as a Historic Monument in 1941 (after a first ranking of the portal in 1910), its restoration took place from the 1940s to the 1970s. The inhabitants financed a new carillon, replacing the five original bells (including Charlotte Elizabeth and Jeanne Henriette) with six new ones, including Elizabeth (800 kg) and Claudette Florence. The bell tower, surmounted by a 17th century stone arrow, was rebuilt, as were the oak vaults of the nave and the marble slabs.

The interior consists of three naves, including the chapel of the Virgin (stone hangers of Richemont) and that of Saint Joseph. The arch keys, carved between 1561 and the 20th century, illustrate biblical scenes such as the Paradise Trial or the Visitation, mixing religious symbols and weapons of the Egmont family. The high altar, attributed to Jean-Baptiste Carpentier, and the stained glass windows (save in 1939 and resettled at the end of the 20th century) complete this heritage. Two 16th century polychrome wooden statues, Saint Roch and Saint John, were restored in 2016.

The church embodies local resilience: its inhabitants buried the bells during the war to protect them, and actively participated in its reconstruction. The modern elements integrated with stained glass and carillon reflect this turbulent history, between destruction and rebirth.

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