EGLISE DE NUILLÉ-SUR-VICOIN

Church of the Holy Trinity The original church has a Romanesque plan dating from the 11th century, with a nave, a round choir and a slightly protruding transept with two apsidioles. As well as a square bell tower built on the crossing of the original transept and pierced on each side with twin bays with columns and capitals. One notices here the use of the Roussard sandstone recurrent in the Romanesque churches of the 11th century in the Bas-Maine. In 1840, two double-gabled wings were added on each side of the nave The triple-arched west portal decorated with small columns dates from the 19th century extension, enhanced by tufa stone like the semicircular window above it. The large windows with light stained glass windows were also pierced in the 19th century. The vault of the nave has been recently restored, the 19th century plaster has been replaced by chestnut slats and the girders have been put back in place. In the choir one can notice the tomb of the Lords of Lancheneil who had the right of burial in the church. In 1687, the construction of the high altar led to the destruction of this crypt by the parishioners. A descendant, Claude de Meaulnes, sued them and they were condemned to restore the tomb in the choir. In 1968, work led to two archaeological discoveries: a tombstone with the shield of the Mathefelons (in the absidiole on the left), and a burial vault built after the sentence of justice (tombstone dated 1691) desecrated during the revolution. Quality furniture including 3 altarpieces from the 17th century: -Central altarpiece of the Trinity and high altar of 1687 by François Langlois, in Loire tuffeau and black Argentré marble, presenting the Holy Trinity. The central painting represents the baptism of Christ, recapitulating the Trinitarian mystery with God the Father at the very top and Jesus surmounted by the dove of the Holy Spirit. The top niche holds a statue of God the Father (a representation normally forbidden by the Council of Trent) and cherubs or putti emerging from the clouds, framed by Saint John the Baptist with the crucified lamb and another unknown Saint. On the first level, statues of Saint Peter (keys) and Saint Paul (book and sword, instrument of his torment). The two small doors give access to the apsidiolus of the chevet. -In the chapels dating from the 19th century extension, two side altarpieces dedicated to the Virgin and Saint Sebastian. The martyr was riddled with arrows by the men of his legion, condemned by Emperor Diocletian. He is invoked against contagious diseases. - Statue of Saint Julien de Brioude, 16th century, polychrome stone, 81 cm. On a masonry console, in the south apsidiolus to the right of the high altar. Saint dressed as a soldier, his left hand holds his German shaped shield and armed with yellow stars. At his feet, his helmet decorated with a plume. Born in Vienne (Isère), a Roman soldier converted to Christianity, he fled the persecutions of Emperor Decius. He was beheaded not far from Brioude (Haute-Loire) in 304. - Statue of Saint-Julien, in the northern transept, the first bishop of Le Mans sent by Saint-Pierre. Represented with a stole, a cope and a mitre. A recurring statue in the Bas-Maine because the diocese was created recently, in 1855, previously dependent on the bishopric of Le Mans. - Christ on the cross, end of the 17th century, made of wood - Processional cross from 1638-39, by the silversmith René Hardy, silver and silver-gilt, 83 cm, Musée du Vieux-Château. Cross decorated with cabochons, it is part of the church's treasury, of which many pieces are classified or listed in the inventory of Historical Monuments (1908). - Tabernacle whose door is decorated with a copper representation of the Good Shepherd surmounted by two putti in the clouds. - Copper plate on the inside of the large west portal: "this door was fractured during the inventory on March 6, 1906"