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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin-de-Vertou de Laigné is a Catholic church located in the village of Laigné, rue d'Anjou, in the department of Mayenne. Its origin dates back to the 12th century, with a primitive church that underwent many transformations, especially in the 15th and 19th centuries. The present building, in flamboyant Gothic style, preserves Romanesque elements such as its 33-metre bell tower, with geminied bays and a masonry arrow.

The church experienced a fire during the French Revolution and was restored between 1804 and 1820 by the inhabitants of the village. Its bell tower, covered in lead in 1886 under the impulse of parish priest Leroyer, is a local symbol. Inside, the church houses an 18th-century altarpiece, statues of saints, and sculpted decorations such as lamp-asses representing an angel, a demon, a monk and a mermaid.

The work of the 19th century has profoundly altered the interior space: a stand has been added, the walls covered with plaster, and the vault laminated. The altarpiece of the high altar, offered in 1756 by the priest Dublineau, includes a painting of the Resurrection and medallions of saints. Two other altarpieces, dedicated to the Virgin and Saint Joseph, adorn the entrance to the choir.

A local saying, linked to the cover of the bell tower in 1886, humorously evokes the number of 'beautiful girls' in Laigné, equal to the number of slates placed (26). This detail illustrates the people's commitment to their heritage and their active participation in its preservation.

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