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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint-Vigor de Quettehou Church, in the Manche department in Normandy, is a Catholic building classified as a historical monument. It stands on a height overlooking the bay of Saint Vaast, west of the town of Quettehou. Its history dates back at least to the ninth century, when Ketil Flatnes, king of the Hebrides, set up a base on the hill.

Until 1215, the church depended on the abbey of the Ladies of Caen, offered by Queen Mathilde, wife of William the Conqueror. In 1214 or 1215 Hugues de Morville, bishop of Coutances, divided the tithes of Quettehou between his chapter and the church of Fécamp. The current building, with its nave and choir, dates from the first half of the 13th century, replacing an old Romanesque church. The nave was rebuilt by the inhabitants, while the choir was rebuilt by the Benedictines of Fécamp.

A notable event took place on 13 July 1346, when King Edward III of England, who landed in Normandy, sedified his son, the future Black Prince, and several young nobles in the church. A commemorative plaque recalls this episode. The fortified square tower, erected between 1485 and 1497, was financed by the church treasurers, including Jehan Dumesnil, parish priest, and parishioners. It has gargoyles and an oculus decorated with a dedication.

The south side, begun in the 16th century and completed in 1765, is illuminated by large bays. The nave, divided into five spans, and the choir, adorned with Norman roses, house 17th and 18th century marine graffiti, including a ship from the time of Tourville. The church also preserves 20th century stained glass windows representing the weapons of local noble families, as well as classified furniture, as a Christ of mercy of the 14th–15th centuries.

The adjacent cemetery houses the tomb of Catherine Dursus La Boissaye (1725–15), the widow of an officer, described as a "model of all virtues". The church, classified in 1971, is also home to the relics of Blessed Placid Viel (19th century), highlighting its religious and heritage importance.

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