Contemplating the devastation caused by time that is damaging the structure of the ancient church of Sérifontaine (Oise), a feeling of vertigo seems to take over Philippe Surplie before “the magnitude of the task” to restore the building. “It’s a mountain. And the mountain gets bigger and bigger…”worries this 74-year-old deputy mayor, two steps from the main altar, abandoned since the church closed in January 2023, due to its danger.
This radical decision by the (unlabeled) mayor of the city was made after the fall of a hanging key (a keystone with a sculpted pendant), which revealed deep damage such as a collapsed roof and numerous cracks. Since the closure of the Saint-Denis church, this city of 2,700 souls has been deprived of any religious ceremony. Only the bells that still ring throughout the city every hour have withstood wear and tear. “When the inhabitants of a city have to organize a funeral or a wedding in another place, it is a shock”sighs Mr. Surplie.
But before considering a possible reopening of this church, classified as a historical monument since 1928, important works are planned, the cost of which, according to municipal officials, is around 2 million euros. A challenge for a city with an annual budget of 3 million euros. Like Sérifontaine, many cities – responsible for the maintenance and restoration of religious buildings built before the 1905 law – are facing the deterioration of their churches and the cost of the works.
Drop in attendance
“ Most of the time we are forced to carry out emergency work because regular maintenance has not been done enough and repairs have been postponed.”finally increasing the bill, explains the mayor of Saint-Flour (Cantal), Philippe Delort (several centers). For these local elected officials, the question also arises of the usefulness of allocating such resources to monuments that also suffer a decrease in attendance due to the decline of Catholic practice throughout the territory.
This situation pushed the Church of France to launch the States General in September 2023 in order to review this religious heritage. Thus, of the 40,000 religious buildings in charge of the municipalities, at least 1,600 are currently closed due, in particular, to their deterioration, indicates the report made public on Monday, November 18. According to the Religious Heritage Observatory, between 2,500 and 5,000 churches are at risk of being abandoned, sold or destroyed between now and 2030. “A country that cannot take care of its heritage is a country that cannot take care of its future”warned the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, on Monday afternoon, on the occasion of the closing of the States General.
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