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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Sainte-Croix church of Boult-sur-Suippe, built in the 12th century, is a Romanesque monument dedicated to the Holy Cross, located in the Marne. Originally dedicated to Martin de Tours, it was classified as historical monuments and suffered major damage during the First World War. Its restoration, carried out with care, preserved its historical character, while the surroundings were renovated in 2014. A stone of foundation on the southern facade bears witness to a perpetual donation made in 1668 by Jean Nouveaut, bourgeois of Reims, for processions and masses in memory of his family.

The architecture of the church combines Romanesque and Gothic elements. The nave, dating from the 12th century, has been radically reshaped, while the cross of the transept, beginning in the 12th century, ends in the early 13th century. The Gothic influences, close to remise architecture, are explained by the link between the Cathédral chapter of Reims and the local cure. The western portal, meanwhile, was rebuilt in the 18th century. Inside, a statue of John the Evangelist and one of Mary, both from the 16th century, as well as three bells dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, enrich the furniture heritage.

Among the bells was an inscription of 1875 mentioning a gift by François Saint-Denis and his wife Aglaée Millet, while another date was 1816. These elements, combined with the turbulent history of the building, illustrate its importance in the religious and community life of Boult-sur-Suippe. The church, classified in 1920, remains a symbol of resilience and local memory, especially after the destruction of the First World War.

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