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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur de Dival, located in the suburbs of Dival in Villenauxe-la-Grande (Aube, Grand Est), dates back to the 14th century. Initially a branch of Bouchy-le-Repos and then Villenauxe, it was consecrated in April 1499 by the bishop of Troyes. Its architecture combines two naves with unequal spans: one ends with a flat bedside, the other with an apse. A tower bears the date of 14 March 1520 on its lintel, testifying to the enlargements of the 16th and 17th centuries. The western nave, not vaulted, contrasts with the more elaborate eastern parts.

Closed to worship in 1926 after the collapse of its roof, the church barely escaped destruction thanks to the preservation of its bell tower, classified as a Historic Monument in 1927. Repaired in 1939, it underwent another collapse after World War II. Excavations carried out in 1982-1983, prior to a restoration decided in 1978, revealed the foundations of a Romanesque church as well as Gallo-Roman remains, a bell-melt furnace and a protohistoric pit. Since 1985, the building, disused of worship, has served as a cultural centre.

Church history reflects the religious and architectural transformations of the region. First place of active worship, it became a symbol of local heritage after its desecration. The archaeological discoveries attest to an ancient occupation of the site, linking its history with that of Villenauxe-la-Grande, marked by artisanal activities (bell-founding) and agricultural activities. Its bell tower, the only protected element, now embodies the collective memory of the village.

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