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Origin and history

Sainte-Anne Church is a Catholic religious building located in La Turballe, in the Loire-Atlantique department, in the Pays de la Loire region. It is dedicated to Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary and patron saint of the Bretons. Its location in the port area reflects its close relationship with the local maritime community, including fishermen and seafood canneries.

The church was built in a historical context marked by the expansion of fishing and canning activities from the 1830s. As early as the second half of the 19th century, the need for a chapel by the sea was felt, but several projects failed in 1852, 1891 and 1932, mainly due to lack of funding. In 1891, work began on a land offered by customs officer François-Marie Lebrun, but was interrupted, leaving room for the former town hall, now known as the François-Marie Lebrun hall.

It was only between 1935 and 1937 that the church was finally built, under the direction of the Dutch architect Guy Liberge. The project is financed by private donations and carried out on a plot offered by the ladies André de Trescalan, formerly occupied by various shops and a carpentry. The building was blessed on May 19, 1937 by Bishop Villepelet, then new bishop of Nantes. In 1950, it became the seat of the parish of La Turballe and officially acquired church status.

The church of Sainte-Anne is home to several remarkable elements, including a bell named "Anne-Marie", blessed on April 25, 1946, and a wooden cross road made by Henri André in 1950. Among the most emblematic objects is a model boat suspended in the nave, ex-voto dedicated to Saint Anne. This model, a three-mast made by local carpenter Amaury Elain and rigged by Marius Moreau, is carried in procession during the feasts of Saint Anne by members of the National Society of Rescue at Sea.

The stained glass windows and interior decorations of the church reflect its maritime and Breton anchorage. The stained glass of the choir, made by an artisan from Guerande, represents the ark of Noah, while the mosaics evoke lighthouses, sailboats and dolphins. The papal coat of arms, made by Mrs Habasque-Tobie and Mrs Pichaud, also adorn the building. Finally, the façade of the altar represents the four Evangelists, and an icon of the Good Shepherd, surrounded by the Virgin Mary and St Joseph, recalls the proximity of the sea by its colours.

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