The church’s four bells rang for the last time on Monday, July 31, 2023. The religious building is to be demolished due to its fragile state.
Newsroom (02/08/2023 18:55, Gaudium Press)
The bells of the Church of St. Cornelius and St. Cyprian in La Baconnière, Mayenne, France, have fallen silent forever. Around 200 people gathered last Monday (31) to listen to their ringing for the last time.
On April 15, a mass took place under a tent erected a short distance from the religious building. The congregation gathered there to reflect on and remember the moments they had spent within the church.
Marie, an octogenarian from La Baconnière, was deeply moved during the final Mass. She expressed her feelings, saying, “The demolition of the church is truly painful. I feel a strong sense of sorrow, and I cannot comprehend why we cannot preserve the church.“
Father Franck Viel, who led the Mass, saw this goodbye as a tribute, explaining, “Our intention was to honor all the people who have experienced significant moments in this church, all the important family events such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.“
The church, already fragile, had been closed since 2014. In 2019, it suffered damage from Storm Michael. The decision to demolish it was made by the town hall, which caused controversy.
In February, local residents organized a protest in front of the church, united under a newly formed collective called “Mayenne Defends Its Heritage.” Sami Fouchard, their spokesperson, questioned, “We need to ask ourselves: How much are we willing to invest to protect our heritage? Are we ready to erase everything due to financial constraints? We need to secure funding and explore options that will allow us to safeguard our churches and heritage.“
Shortly after the bells went silent, a crane lowered the church tower to the ground. The demolition process is set to continue for two weeks. Mayor David Besneux of La Baconnière assured, “We are committed to preserving all the foundations of this church. We are creating a memorial space around it, elevated by two meters above the perimeter. Our collaboration with CAUE, the Office of Urban and Environmental Architecture, is ongoing. A month ago, we held a public meeting, and we plan to retain the entire front facade facing the city’s entrance, including the portico, to create an aesthetically pleasing feature.“
The local residents are demanding the establishment of a new place of worship. They hope to reinstall the bells and the Stations of the Cross from the Church of St. Cornelius and St. Cyprian, artifacts that the town hall is committed to preserving. An external municipal commission will be established in the fall to gather the opinions of residents.
Source: France Bleu and France 3
Compiled by Carlos Ruiz
