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Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Beuzit de Landerneau, located in the old truve of Beuzit-Saint-Conogan, finds its origins in a monastery founded in the fifth century by Saint Conogan, local lord who became religious. This site, linked to the bishopric of Leon, was an important place of pilgrimage, attracting the faithful every third Sunday in May. The hagiographic tradition reports that Conogan, after transforming his estate into a monastery, donated it to the abbey of Landevennec before 532.

In the Middle Ages, Beuzit-Saint-Conogan became a trier dependent on Guipavas, then a secular seigneury in the thirteenth century when Guyomarch de Léon received the benefit. The present Léonard-born church was inaugurated in 1591 on the initiative of Hervé de Parcevaux and his wife Renée de Coëtlogon, celebrating their marriage. This double gallery bell tower, characteristic of Breton art, is today the only remaining element, classified as Historic Monument in 1925.

The parish, which was abolished in 1791 at the time of the Revolution, was known for its annual tromenie dedicated to Saint Conogan, a solemn procession that generated income thanks to the offerings of the pilgrims. The saint's relics, including an arm and part of his skull, were venerated for their miraculous virtues, especially against diseases. The church, disused, was gradually abandoned, leaving only ruins surrounded by a cemetery today gone.

The site was also linked to local noble families, such as the Guyomarch, lords of the Palue, whose weapons appear on the church gate. Their manor, now partially destroyed, showed their influence in the region. The Great and the Petite Palue, two neighboring seigneuries, were united by matrimonial alliances before being separated in the sixteenth century. These families played a key role in the economic and religious history of the parish.

In the 17th century, the church was equipped with rich liturgical furniture, including a pulpit of 1681, embroidered banners and relics exposed during the processions. The Counter-Reform and the missions of Father Maunoir strengthened the local devotion, while the toile activity of flax, flourishing until the eighteenth century, contributed to the prosperity of Beuzit. The Revolution ended at that time, dispersing ecclesiastical property and abolishing the parish.

Today, the bell tower of Sainte-Beuzit Church, surrounded by an urbanized environment, remains the last testimony of this religious and seigneurial past. Archaeological excavations revealed no trace of the cemetery or monastic buildings of origin, but fountains associated with Saint Conogan remain nearby, recalling the ancient spiritual vocation of the place.

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