L'église Saint-Martin

Evangelism The region was evangelized in the 6th century by Saint Martin de Vertou (527-601), a monk sent by the bishop of Nantes, Felix, to fight paganism south of the Loire. According to tradition, the Pierre Saint-Martin (or Pierre Tremblante), a large gneiss slab on the bank of the Acheneau, served as a pulpit for Saint Martin to preach to the local population. The parish of Cheix was founded in the 10th or 11th centuries. A first church was built in the village of Chesiacum in the 11th or 12th century. The building is modest in size, measuring around 15 by 5 metres, with walls barely 3 metres high. The church is surrounded by a small cemetery. A church through many changes It was during the 12th century that the name of the patron saint of this first known church changed. Placed under the patronage of the local evangelizer, Saint Martin de Vertou, he was replaced by Saint Martin de Tours (316-397), as in several other places in the Pays de Retz (such as Chauvé). By the time of the French Revolution, the area had been ruined. Part of the village and the church of Cheix-en-Retz were destroyed by Republican troops in 1793. In 1803, the church was restored. In 1833, the nave was extended, topped by a small belfry (to accommodate a bell). In 1852, the cemetery around the church was moved a little further and established on its present site. In 1853, the baptistery was installed, which has been preserved in the present-day church. But the church was too small, too low and unhealthy. In 1856, on the initiative of the mayor of the time, Claude Camille Brillaud de Laujardière (owner of Château de Bois-Corbeau), it was decided to rebuild and enlarge the church. The local inhabitants were to preserve the old stones and reuse them for the new building. Today's Saint-Martin church dates back to 1856. It was built to plans by Nantes architect Joseph-Fleury Chenantais (1809-1868), responsible for the former Palais de Justice in Nantes and the church of Notre-Dame de Bon-Secours in La Bernerie-en-Retz. This neo-Romanesque church replaces the medieval edifice destroyed during the French Revolution. Remarkable features of the church The pillars of the transept vault and the arches of the skylights are made of alternating white stone and brick. The granite font dates from the 12th century. It is one of the few remains of the 12th-century church. The baptismal font dates from 1853. Comprising a marble basin and copper dome, they were purchased for the former church. It stands in a corner at the back of the church. The baptismal font is surrounded by an elaborate ironwork grille. The choir stained-glass window is the work of the Carmelite workshop. It dates from 1856. It depicts three episodes from the life of Saint-Martin: the saint's charity, the foundation of the Ligugé monastery, and the episcopate of Tours. The banner, dating from 1856, is made of velvet and silk, and features the effigy of Saint Martin. It is used for processions. New church The new church underwent its first repairs in 1931: the nave roof and vault were redone. new stained glass windows were installed. In 1935, two new bells were added to the bell tower. An internal restoration of the choir was undertaken in the 1960s (to adapt it to the new liturgies resulting from the Second Vatican Council). In the 1980s, the work continued: the bell tower, whose spire was leaning; internal restoration of the south gable; tiling to be completely redone; interior restoration of the transept. But the church has suffered the ravages of time. Successive waves of repair work are underway to enable the commune to safeguard this religious site. The little extra : You can see the church right in the center of the village of Cheix-en-Retz by combining your visit with a hike on the Pierre Tremblante trail. Please note that the interior of the church is accessible on Saturday mornings only, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., except during religious services. Sources: Emile Boutin (Histoire religieuse du Pays de Retz abbayes, prieurés, paroisses, édition SILOE 1999), Le Patrimoine des communes de la Loire Atlantique (éditions FLOHIC, 1999).