Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Forcé, located in the Mayenne department in Pays de la Loire, is a Catholic building whose exact origin remains uncertain. Several sources evoke an initial construction in the 11th or 12th century, probably in Romanesque style, limited to a single nave. The foothills of the façade, redesigned in the 15th century, frame a Greek tuffle portal dated by an inscription. This primitive building has been gradually enriched, reflecting the architectural changes and liturgical needs of the local community.

In the 17th century, the church was enlarged with the addition of a transept and a choir with a circular bedside, marking a major transformation of its structure. The chapels north and south date from the 18th century, during which time a seigneurial bench was also installed for Jean René Pierre Le Clerc de la Jubertière, the purchaser of the seigneury of Forcé in 1780. This furniture, executed around this date, bears witness to the link between the building and the local elites of the Old Regime.

The 19th century saw several significant interventions: the reconstruction of the choir in 1837, led by entrepreneur Frédéric Ricosset, and the addition of a pulpit to be preached in 1839, decorated with a painting depicting Saint Francis Xavier. Another notable element, the Adoration of the Magi, dates from the 18th century. Finally, a sacristy was added around 1895, and a comprehensive restoration was carried out in 1985, ensuring the sustainability of this religious heritage.

The church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine thus illustrates almost a thousand years of history, mixing medieval heritage, modern transformations and adaptations to cultural needs. Its composite architecture, from the novel to the 19th century, makes it a privileged witness to the evolution of religious practices and construction techniques in Mayenne.

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