Creation of the parish 1684 (≈ 1684)
Segregation of the Anses-d.
1766
Hurricane destruction
Hurricane destruction 1766 (≈ 1766)
Church completely destroyed, rebuilt in 1778.
1817
Destructive Cyclone
Destructive Cyclone 1817 (≈ 1817)
New destruction, difficult reconstruction until 1829.
26 décembre 1829
Dedication of the current church
Dedication of the current church 26 décembre 1829 (≈ 1829)
Baroque style, unique nave financed through slavery tax.
1860
Enlargement
Enlargement 1860 (≈ 1860)
Addition of collaterals and redesign of exterior walls.
1871
Renovation façade and bell tower
Renovation façade and bell tower 1871 (≈ 1871)
Aesthetic and structural work.
28 décembre 1979
Registration historical monument
Registration historical monument 28 décembre 1979 (≈ 1979)
Official protection of the building.
1983
Structural restoration and bell tower
Structural restoration and bell tower 1983 (≈ 1983)
Intervention of Companions of Duty.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Church (cad. L 97): registration by decree of 28 December 1979
Key figures
Père David - Curé and historian
Found the baptismal fonts of the seventeenth century.
Compagnons du devoir - Restorative artisans
Recast frame and bell tower in 1983.
Origin and history
The church of Saint-Thomas du Diamant, located in Martinique, found its origins in the 17th century, when the parish of Diamant separated from the parish of Anses d'Arlet in 1684. A first masonry sanctuary was built there, financed by the inhabitants and the king. The building, simple and without a bell tower, underwent major repairs, such as the importation of 1800 tiles from Provence in 1700 for its ground. Its fragility in the face of the weather was revealed in 1766, when a hurricane completely destroyed it.
Rebuilt in 1778 with the addition of a bell tower, the church was again razed by a cyclone in 1817. Its reconstruction, delayed by conflicts between inhabitants and apostolic prefect, is finally financed through a tax linked to the number of slaves possessed. The current baroque-style single-nave building was dedicated in 1829. Enlarged in 1860 with collaterals and renovated several times (façade in 1871, bell tower in 1983), it was inscribed in historical monuments in 1979.
The exterior architecture mixes Tuscan pilasters, triangular pediment and baroque volutes, while the interior houses a boat frame, redone by the companions of duty. The marble altar, dated 1770, and the 17th century monolithic baptismal fonts bear witness to its colonial heritage. The wooden bell tower, typical of the West Indies, dominates the whole, recalling the climatic and human challenges that marked its history.
The location of the church, in the centre of the village and parallel to the sea (cadastre section L, plot 97), reflects its central role in community life. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments highlights its heritage value, linked to the religious and social history of Martinique, marked by slavery and natural hazards.
The sources also mention protected elements (Decree of 1979) and a specific address: 44 Rue à Tertulien Duville, au Diamant. Its present state is the result of successive restorations, including that of 1983, preserving a unique mixture of European and Creole influences.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review