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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Thomas-du-Mont-aux-Malades, dedicated to Thomas Becket (Thomas of Canterbury), was built around 1175 in Mont-Saint-Aignan, shortly after the assassination of the archbishop in 1170. Initiated under the reign of Henry II Plantagenet, it now retains its nave and its original choir, dating from the last quarter of the 12th century. This project was part of a context of increased devotion to the saint, canonized in 1173, and reflected the political and religious influence of Norman England on French soil.

In the 14th century, the church was modified with the addition of a flat bedside and a chapel dedicated to the Virgin, marking an architectural evolution towards the late Gothic. After the French Revolution, it became parishioner and underwent major restorations around 1840, including partial reconstruction of its structures. A neo-Gothic bell tower was erected in the 1880s, probably replacing an older element, while its 17th century organ buffet — although the instrument was dismantled — bears witness to its rich furniture heritage.

Classified as a historic monument on November 24, 1926, the church illustrates the architectural and cultural transformations of medieval and modern Normandy. Its inscription reflects its heritage value, linked to both its religious history, its post-revolutionary parish role, and its preserved elements, such as the 14th century bedside or the remains of its organ. Sources, including Monumentum and Wikipedia, highlight its anchoring in local history and its evolution over the centuries.

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