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Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Cressy-sur-Somme, located in the department of Saône-et-Loire, presents a partially Romanesque structure dating back to the twelfth century. His choir, vaulted in a crib broken and extended by a semicircular apse, bears witness to this time, while the base of the bedside walls could even date from the preroman period. These elements contrast with the southern crusillon of the gothic transept, which supports the bell tower.

The nave, rebuilt between 1868 and 1870 by the Mâconese architect André Berthier, consists of four bays lit by windows in the middle of the hanger. It is vaulted with ridge compartments separated by doubles, illustrating a renovation of the building in the 19th century. This reconstruction marks an architectural evolution while preserving historical elements.

The church houses remarkable stained glass windows, including one of the 15th century (1493-1506) classified as a historical monument in 1922. This stained glass window represents the Virgin Mary, the Child Jesus and Saint John the Evangelist, with the donor Jean Chambard, parish priest and lord of Cressy. Another stained glass window, directed by Amédée Bergès in 1888, shows Saint Martin as bishop. These works reflect the religious and artistic importance of the place.

Consecrated to the Catholic cult, the church falls under the Diocese of Autun and the parish of Saint-Jean-l-Vévengeliste des Communautés Bourbonniennes. It remains a place of prayer and heritage, rooted in local and regional history.

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