Origin and history
The church of Notre-Dame de Gouberville, built in the 13th century, has undergone many changes over the centuries. It is located in the former commune of Gouberville, now integrated with Vicq-sur-Mer in the English Channel. The building, under the name of Notre-Dame, was initially linked to local lords, such as Godefroy de Gouberville, mentioned in the Black Book (1251-1274) as patron. The income of the cure, including tithes, lands and annuities, was substantial for the time, with a taxed value of 54 pounds.
In the 14th century, the White Paper (1347-1370) cited Guillaume de Gouberville as patron, while parish priests such as Nichole de Gouberville (1360) and Simon de Couvert (1407) succeeded each other. The Picot family, especially Jehan Picot, seigneur of Russy, cumulated the cures of Gouberville and other parishes, but often delegated management to vicars like Jehan Michel. The Revolution marked a turning point: the church was sacked, silverware confiscated, and the parish annexed to Neville. Refractory priests, like Mr Lescellière, refuse the schismatic oath, while constitutional priests, like Jacques François Boitel, are imposed.
The restoration of the church spans several centuries, with major works led by parish priests such as Jean Deny (1683-1703), who led the restoration of the choir, the addition of a sacristy and the decoration of the nave. His successor, Nicolas Le Poittevin (1712-1770), continued the development: reconstruction of the presbytery, closing of the cemetery, and completion of the bell tower in 1780 by a polygonal dome. After the revolutionary ravages, the church was reopened to worship in 1803 with servicemen such as François Mangon or Jean-Baptiste Lebrettevilois, who supervised beautifications in the 19th century, including a stand and a carved high altar.
Architecturally, the church preserves medieval elements, such as the west gable and the bedside windows (XIII century), but its lateral walls are retraced in the 19th century. The bell tower, a massive 13th century tower, was surmounted by a stone dome added in 1780. The vault of the choir, redone in Gothic style (1876-1877), and the furniture (butterfly of glory, neo-Gothic luminaire, 16th century baptismal fonts) testify to its evolution. The building, which was listed as a historical monument in 1975, embodies almost eight centuries of religious and local history.
The archives reveal an active parish life, rhythmic by tithes, masses and conflicts, such as the suppression of the cure under the Terror. Priests, often from noble families (Picot, Le Poittevin), play a central role in the management of goods and works. After the Revolution, the parish gradually regained its stability, with servicemen such as M. Meslin (died 1863), who worked to embellish the building. Today, the church remains a witness to the architectural and social transformations of Normandy, from medieval times to modern times.
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