Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

Bréhémont, a former annex of the parish church of Rivarennes, only became a parish in 1789. The church was built in 1843 in the neo-Gothic style. Three years later, five stained glass windows for the choir and the side chapels (bays 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) were ordered by the Parisian Émile Laurent, who had ties with Auguste Galimard and who had designed the plans.Source: patrimoine.centre-valdeloire.fr/gertrude-diffusion/dossier/IM37003094

After the Blessed Virgin Mary, "Sainte MARIA MADELEINE" is the woman most frequently mentioned in the writings of the New Testament. Originally called "Mary of Magdala" after her place of origin on the Sea of Galilee, the name "Mary Magdalene" that is common today has evolved over time. According to the biblical accounts, she is one of the women and men who followed Jesus of Nazareth. According to the testimony of the evangelists, Mary Magdalene is also one of the three women who, after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, wanted to anoint the body on Easter morning after the Sabbath rest, and the very first person who ever met the Risen Christ.

In the 9th century (around 887), the village was mentioned under the name of "Bruhemmumd", then in the 10th century under that of "Abliacensis" as the administrative center. It was not until 1214 that his designation under the current name of Bréhémont was recorded in a charter by Olivier de Langeais. This stronghold was given by the Canons of Saint Martin of Tours to the lords of L’Ile Bouchard. Erected in Châtellenie, it was included in the marquisate of Ussé created in 1692.
The old church, which had no autonomy and depended on the parish of Rivarennes, was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by the current Church of St. Mary Magdalene. This was built in 1843 according to the project of the architect Phidias Vestier, in a neo-Gothic style. It is one of the rare disoriented churches in France because the choir is not oriented, as is the rule, towards the east but towards the west (legend has it that the donor, having allowed the construction, could thus see from his home who participated in the services !!!).
If the church is closed, go and ask the town hall for the keys so you can visit it because the interior of the church has more to admire than the exterior itself.
The single aisle nave is in limestone and the roof is in slate.
The ceiling has three superb carved and painted keystones
The wooden vault is shaped like a boat
The walls are draped with five stained glass windows dated 1846 created by the glass painters Galimard and Laurent, giving a beautiful light on the interior.