Origin and history
The Saint-Martin church of Herblay, located in the Val-d These remains, combined with Christian funeral furniture, confirm the presence of a primitive sanctuary on the site, well before the construction of the current building. Under the Ancien Régime, Herblay was dependent on the diocese of Paris, and his church was under the patronage of the chapter of Notre-Dame, which drew from it the decimal revenues shared with the abbey of Saint-Denis. The parish, considered one of the oldest in the diocese, was also marked by the presence of three local lords holding rights of justice, while the factory (parochial council) managed modest incomes, mainly from communal meadows, ceded to the inhabitants in 1682.
The construction of the present church begins in the 12th century in a primitive Gothic style, with the transept and the base of the bell tower as the oldest parts. The nave, slightly posterior (late XII-early XIIIth century), was originally un arched and decorated with murals depicting biblical figures, now missing. The western gate, of late radiant style (14th century), was a place of devotion where travelers nailed horseshoes in search of the protection of Saint Martin. Between 1500 and 1535, the Romanesque choir was replaced by a vast set of flamboyant Gothic style, financed in part by the inhabitants and loans like that of Mathieu de Beauvais. This choir, characterized by its cut-sided bedside and symmetrical collateral, houses five Renaissance windows (1537-1540), restored in 1881, which are among the artistic jewels of the building. The consecration of the church was carried out around 1534 by Bishop Charles-Antoine de Vesc, bishop of Valencia, marking the completion of this major campaign.
The transformations continued in the 17th and 19th centuries: the north side was rebuilt at the end of the 16th or 17th century, while the south side, known as the "nave of men", was expanded in 1701 under the direction of architect Dom François Romain. The French Revolution led to the sale of the presbytery (1797) and the melting of three of the four bells to make cannons. In the 19th century, major works were undertaken: in 1866, the bell tower, threatened with ruin, was consolidated thanks to a public subscription initiated by Mayor Jean Leclaire; In 1869, the nave and the lowsides were vaulted with dogives under the direction of communal architect M. de La Chardonnière, radically changing their appearance. The damaged stained glass windows were restored or replaced, thanks in particular to the financing of Pierre-Jules Soufflot (petit-neveeu de Jacques-Germain Soufflot), while the electrification of the ringtone took place in 1930. The church is listed as historic monuments by decree of 6 July 1925, recognizing its heritage value.
The interior of the church reveals a nave of six spans, flanked by modern lowsides with simplified elevations, and a primitive Gothic transept with original vaults. The flamboyant choir, with its wavy pillars and complex filling windows, creates a unique "glass cage" effect in the department. Among the remarkable furniture elements, six Renaissance glass windows (classified in 1905) illustrate biblical scenes and donors, while two funeral slabs of the parish priests Nicolas and Jacques Hellet (17th century), as well as a bentier of 1627 and a carved group of Saint Martin Charity (17th century), are classified as historical monuments. The 18th century eagle-lutrin and a baroque altarpiece (1988) complete this furniture heritage.
Externally, the Gothic bell tower, with its broken arched bays framed with columnettes and foliage capitals, dominates the building. The glacis foothills and chimera-shaped gargoyles highlight the care given to architecture, while the flamboyant abside features an openwork balustrade typical of the Renaissance. The modern porch masks the 14th century gate, and the lateral elevations, largely redesigned, reflect the restoration campaigns of the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the Church of Saint Martin remains an active place of worship, welcoming Sunday Masses and special celebrations, while being a major testimony to the architectural and artistic evolution in Île-de-France, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review