Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of the Nativity of the Virgin of Brannay, located in the Yonne in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, finds its origins in an earlier building founded in the early Middle Ages, attested by the Charter of Salon in 1132. This document mentions the concession of the territory of Brannay to the Chapter of the Cathedral of Sens. The oldest part of the present church, the porch tower, dates from the late 12th or early 13th century. It is characteristic of the churches of North Seno and Brie, with a late Romanesque style. The nave, simple and equipped with windows in the middle of the hanger, was built during the same period, while its ship's vault, added in the 15th century, shows repairs related to the degraded state of the roof.

In the 19th century, architect Lefort profoundly altered the building by rearranging the transept and extending the choir. This work campaign was also an opportunity to redo the glass windows, thanks to a donation from the inhabitants of the castle of Plenoche, Mr. and Mrs. Dupuis-Putois, whose portraits appear on two stained glass windows of the abside. The stained glass windows, signed J. Vantillard Paris 1879, combine geometrical and figurative motifs, such as those representing Saint Hubert or the Immaculate Conception. A 16th century stained glass window, representing St.James the Major, was erected at that time after being dismantled.

The Pregent bell, melted on site in 1549 and baptized by Pregent Lucas, local lord, is a remarkable element of the church. Its name, engraved in Gothic characters, attests to its historical anchor, despite errors in the inscription. Ranked a historic monument in 1942, it was the subject of a major restoration in the 20th century, carried by a local association created in 1989. The latter, rewarded in 2005 for its actions, also allowed the renovation of the belfry and stained glass windows, six of which were restored in 2020 thanks to 96% funding from the Association Prégente.

The church, partially protected since 1995 (porch tower) and 1996 (glass windows), illustrates nearly nine centuries of history, between medieval heritage, modern transformations and contemporary heritage mobilization.

External links