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Origin and history

The Church of Saint-Sauveur du Petit-Andely, located in Andelys, Normandy, is a religious building built in the 13th century. It adopts a plan in Greek cross, with branches 29 meters long, and a seven-sided polygonal bedside supported by bow-buttons. Its western gate, sheltered by a 15th century wooden porch, houses a blessed statue of Christ dating back to the mid-13th century. Inside, there are 16th and 17th century statues, as well as medieval tombs, including those of Guillaume Gilles († 1478) and the priest Jehan Bernard.

During the siege of Château-Gaillard in 1203, the village of Petit-Andely was burned, but the church was spared by order of King Philippe Auguste. During the French Revolution, it was transformed into an iron and lead store. The stained glass windows of the collaterals, damaged during the Second World War, were replaced in 1953 by Max Ingrand, who represented the Way of the Cross. A notable event occurred on September 15, 1973, when a tornado destroyed the arrow in slate (47 m high), also damaging the stained glass windows of the choir. Repairs were completed in 1978.

The church organ, created in 1674 by Robert Ingut and Philippe Quesnel for the Abbey of the Treasure-Notre-Dame, was acquired by the city in 1792 after the suppression of religious orders. Ranked a two-stage historic monument (1955 for the instrumental part, 1971 for the buffet), it was restored several times, notably in 1926, 1968 and 1997-1998. The church itself is classified from the list of 1840, testifying to its heritage importance.

Among the remarkable elements are a Louis XV altarpiece, originally from Mortemer Abbey, and a collection of statues and tombs from the 15th to the 17th centuries. These elements illustrate the artistic and religious evolution of the monument, marked by periods of destruction and restoration, reflecting the turbulent history of Normandy and its cultural buildings.

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