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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Querrieu, located on the edge of a chalky plateau overlooking the valley of the Hallue, is built of chalk stone on a sandstone base. Although its exact origin is unknown, a document from 1280 attests to the rights of the Chapter of the Church of Saint-Firmin-le-Confesseur of Amiens, confirmed by Hugues, parish priest of Querrieu, who then paid 20 tournament floors. This first written testimony places the church in a medieval context, without allowing a precise dating of its foundation.

During the French Revolution, the building was transformed into a saltpetre factory, with land and manure handling. In 1793 his bells were confiscated and sent to Amiens, in accordance with an order of the District. After this troubled period, the City Council allocated 1,124 francs in 1803 (year XI) for urgent repairs, marking the beginning of a series of restoration works that will continue over the centuries.

A notable episode of his history concerns the relics of Saints Gervais and Protais, discovered in 1824 by Jean-Baptiste Dumeige, a carpenter of Amiens, among the rubble of the presbytery of Saint-Rémi. These relics, associated with a miracle (the healing of the daughter of Dumeige in 1827), were solemnly translated at Querrieu in 1833. Their arrival was celebrated by grand celebrations, as evidenced by the commemorations of 50 years (1883) and 100 years (1933), the latter including competitions, a historical procession and night festivities in the park of the local castle.

The architecture of the church reveals a construction in several phases. The apse with cut strips, supported by foothills, and the choir lined with columns without capitals probably date from the earliest periods. The current nave, with its sides, was rebuilt at the beginning of the sixteenth century in a robust style, without excessive ornaments. The stained glass windows, mostly replaced after the 1918 bombings, depict religious scenes and coats of arms of local families, such as those of Alcantara or Windish-Graetz.

Among the remarkable elements, the high altar (from the abbey of Saint-Acheul and acquired in 1805), the pulpit to preach of 1709, and the 16th century baptismal fonts are classified as Historic Monuments. The statues of Saints Gervais and Protais, as well as other works such as Pietà or the Virgin of Calvary, bear witness to a rich statutory heritage. The current bells, one of which dates back to 1819, also recall revolutionary upheavals.

The last major work in 1999 focused on the consolidation of the walls and foothills. The church remains a place of memory, where religious history, evolutionary architecture and local traditions blend together, as evidenced by parish festivals and processions up to the 20th century.

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