The 1st church on the Island dates from 1025. It underwent multiple deconstructions and reconstructions, in particular with the wars of religion: the date of 1609 inscribed on the southern buttress of the bell tower, testifies to a reconstruction commissioned by Richelieu.
Between 1650 and 1676 the choir and the 2 side chapels received 3 Baroque altarpieces in the Laval style in polychrome stone.
During the Revolution, the building was occupied by Republican troops. The bells, broken, are carried away to ''melt down'' cannons. At the beginning of the 19th century, the church was declared in ruins.
From 1803 to 1830, the waterproofing of the building was undertaken. Then, the restoration of the bell tower lasted from 1836 to 1844. In 1845, a clock and a pulpit were installed. In 1875, an expansion campaign began, only the bell tower and the altarpieces will remain. The nave and the choir are widened with ribbed aisles and their gutter walls are pierced with arcades. The church is a fine example of neo-Gothic with its pointed arches and ribbed vaults.
The Law of 1905 on the separation of Church and State, transfers the building to the municipality. A period of breaking in the institutions followed. For 60 years, only maintenance is provided.
From 1970, the restorations follow one another: repair of the interior and exterior coatings, renovation of 2 side altarpieces, restoration and protection of the stained glass windows, the floor, the roof, the frames...
In 1980, the municipality decided to decorate the interior walls instead of a Stations of the Cross. An order for 6 canvases was placed with Henry Simon, a native painter of the city, for production in consultation with Father René Bégaudeau, parish priest of Saint-Hilaire, who were finally installed in 1982.
In 12/2010, the collapse of part of the vault of the choir, allowed the interior restoration of 2012-2013, The work consisted of the deconstruction/reconstruction of the vaults (including that of the choir), the repair of the nave and the frame. The interior walls have been taken up and colored. The church reopened its doors to worshipers and visitors in 07/2013.
The city is currently restoring the 2 side altarpieces. It should be noted that a campaign to restore the altarpiece of the choir had already been carried out in the years 1999/2000.
Founded in the 12th century, the Saint-Hilaire church is the oldest monument in the town. Built on the old island of Hiers, it was a priory church before becoming a parish. The Romanesque sanctuary was almost entirely rebuilt in the 15th century, as evidenced by the ogival windows with flamboyant tracery, the ribbed vaults and the north door (today walled up), surmounted by an accoladed gable. Very tested by the depredations following the wars of religion, it was partially rebuilt in the seventeenth century, but was cut by several spans. The facade is the most recent part of the building and only dates from 1862. It includes a low-rise bell tower, topped by a slate spire. Like the Saint-Pierre church, the Saint-Hilaire church is based on a rectangular plan with three aisles. A few meters from the sanctuary, a dwelling house preserves some elements of the old priory, dating from the seventeenth century. fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiers-Brouage
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