Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Ouen, located in Courtonne-la-Meurdrac in Calvados, finds its origins in the 11th century with the construction of its nave, followed by important works in the 12th, 13th and 16th centuries. The first mentions of the parish date back to the middle of the 13th century, when Gothic windows partially replaced Romanesque openings, as evidenced by the full door of the southern wall. The patronage of the church was shared between the family of Gouvix and the bishop of Lisieux, reflecting the feudal and religious ties of the time.

In the 15th century, the building underwent major changes: expansion of the openings (west gate, door windows) and addition of a porch to the frame at the end of 15th–early 16th century. The 16th century marked the reconstruction of the choir, the triumphal arch and the nave structure, adorned with polychrome rinceaux and roses. The nave, larger than the choir (10 m by 17 m), preserves Roman elements such as the spicatum, while the bell tower, initially covered with dents, is covered with slates in the 19th century.

The furniture was renewed in the 17th-18th century, with a baroque altarpiece (1647–666) inspired by Rubens, the baptismal fonts of the 18th century and a 19th century pulpit. The brick sacristy was added after 1825, and wall paintings (false apparatus, medieval graffiti) embellished the interior. Ranked a historic monument in 1926, the church underwent restorations in the 20th to 21st centuries, especially after the lightning of 2009 which damaged its arrow. A diagnosis in 2018 plans conservation work.

The 19th-century stained glass windows, funded by donors, complete a decor that combines medieval heritage and modern additions. The carved sandstones and the 16th century painted frame, comparable to the churches of La Hoplonnière and L'Hôtellerie, underline its heritage importance. The porch, the baptismal fonts, and the procession cross (XVIIe) have also been classified as historical objects since 1976.

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