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Key figures

Origin and history

Sainte-Marthe Church, located in the commune of Sainte-Marthe (Eure, Normandy), is a religious building built in the 16th century during the Renaissance. Although redesigned in the 19th and 20th centuries, it retains architectural elements typical of this period, such as its beam of glory representing the Risen Christ. This Catholic monument is distinguished by its mix of styles, thanks in particular to its art deco stained glass, made much later.

The stained glass windows of the church, created between 1955 and 1960 by Norman master glassmaker François Décorchemon, illustrate evangelical scenes in a stylized style emblematic of the Thirty Glories. Among the performances are Saint Martha, Jeanne d'Arc, Thérèse de Lisieux and Saint Louis. These works, integrated with the general inventory of French heritage, have been the subject of three restoration campaigns (2002, 2004, 2007), highlighting their artistic and historical value. Despite these treatments, a 15th century statue, listed as a historic monument in 1962 and representing St.Sebastien, was stolen in 1970.

The interior of the church houses several classified objects, including a 16th century carved panel (Christ in antependium), a 15th century statue of Christ on the cross, a 17th century altarpiece, a 1769 Annunciation painting, and 16th century stalls. These elements reflect the heritage richness of the site, protected and studied by the Conservatory of Historic Monuments. Today, although Sunday worship was no longer celebrated in 2024, the church remains an emblematic place of the diocese of Evreux, integrated into the parish community of the "Bords and Plains".

François Décrchemont (1880–1971), a Norman artist specializing in glass paste, marked the building with its stained glass windows, now recognized as major pieces of modern sacred art. His work in Sainte-Marthe is part of a larger production, studied in works such as Les vitraux de François Décrchemont (2001) or François Décrchemont, master of glass paste (2006). These achievements, combined with recent restorations, confirm the importance of the church in the Norman religious and artistic heritage.

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