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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul d'Izé, located in the Mayenne department in Pays de la Loire, is a 17th-century Catholic building. It is located at the intersection of departmental roads 35 and 240, in the village of Izé. Its history is marked by tragic events and successive reconstructions, reflecting the resilience of the local community.

The church was burned on 5 November 1795 during the French Revolution and restored in 1810. A new tragedy occurred on December 13, 1978, when a tornado devastated the western part of the village, tearing up the roof and the church stand. Only the stained glass of the north transept, made in the 19th century by the Carmel of Le Mans, is spared. The reconstruction is carried out under the direction of Abbé Raymond Daniel, with funds collected by the population.

The architecture of the church follows a Latin cross plan, with a transept and a cut-pan choir. The tower was added during the renovation of 1810. Inside, two 16th-century polychrome wooden statues representing Saint Barbe and Saint Anne are preserved. These artistic elements bear witness to the region's religious and cultural heritage.

A contemporary window, commissioned in 1981 by Father Fauveau at the master glassmaker Van Guy, became famous for his allegorical representation. Entitled stained glass of the Resurrection, it depicts Christ triumphant in front of two Roman legionaries, with the traits of Georges Marchais and François Mitterrand, with reference to the arrival of the left in power in 1981. The lower part of the window evokes the destruction of the church by the tornado, while the upper part celebrates its reconstruction.

This stained glass window aroused media controversy in 1982, notably after an article in Liberation accusing the priest of being an "old fundamentalist priest". Father Hubert, Fauveau's successor, and Mayor Fernand Duval clarify that Van Guy acted alone, inspired by an ancient tradition of representation of political figures in the stained glass windows. The work remains a symbol of the political tensions of the time.

The church was inaugurated after reconstruction on 10 July 1980, and the stained glass window was laid on 8 October 1981 and inaugurated two days later. It continues to play a central role in the religious and community life of Izé, while drawing attention to its unique artistic and historical heritage.

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