Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Sainte-Gemmes of Sainte-Gemmes-d-Andigné, dedicated to Saint Gemmes, was built in 1865 by architect Alfred Tessier on the site of a 12th century Romanesque church, considered too small. The first stone was laid on 19 April 1865 by the bishop of Angers, Guillaume Angebault. The building, inspired by the 13th century neo-Gothic style, is distinguished by its bell tower topped by a stone arrow and its bow-buttons. Its interior, structured in three naves and an apse choir, includes stained glass windows, neo-Gothic furniture and medallions painted by Paul Audfray (1923-1928) paying tribute to the local victims of the First World War.

A drama marks his story: on the night of January 27-28, 1881, a bellet collapsed during a storm, crossing the roof and killing three women among the faithful gathered. Despite this accident, the church was described as a "beautiful building" by Célestin Port in 1878, and as a "magnificent ogival building" by Émile Milon in 1888, highlighting its slender arrow, decorative bell towers and quality stained glass windows.

In the 21st century, the church barely escaped demolition. In 2013, a municipal project planned its destruction, like that of other local churches (Saint-Pierre-aux-links de Gesté, Saint-Aubin-du-Pavoil). A mobilization culminated in its inscription to the historical monuments on 6 February 2014, thus preserving its architectural and memorial heritage, including symbolic elements such as Paul Audfray's marouflé canvases.

The building also preserves traces of its liturgical history, such as a piece of the True Cross offered in 1784 at the old church, as well as 18th-century layouts (chapel adjacent to the choir). Its patterned pavement, its carpentry doors and its polychrome vault keys testify to a meticulous artisanal know-how, characteristic of the 19th century religious reconstructions in Anjou.

External links