This is an important church whose origins date back to the pre-Romanesque period. It was donated to the Abbey of Saint-Vanne in Verdun in 963 and to the Abbey of Hasnon, near Valenciennes, in 1065. In 1581, it was set on fire by plundering Malcontents, mutinous troops of the States-General fighting against the Spanish. Residents who fled inside were also burned to death or murdered as they emerged. The large church roof was reportedly lowered later, due to a lack of funds, after another fire in 1728.
Like many old churches, this one was given Saint Martin (Martin of Tours) as its patron saint. His image as a horseman sharing his cloak with a beggar at the gates of Amiens is carved near the entrance gate. The image is again in the left aisle and finally, as a fresco in the choir. Later (16th century), he faced competition from Saint Oncomena, who stands on the right side altar. The statue of Saint Oncomena with a beard on a cross (from 1646) was saved from the fire of 1728.
Excavations in and around the church suggest that the first church building was constructed here as early as the 9th century. The successive construction phases lead to this result: a Gothic west tower (13th century), a Gothic three-aisled nave of four bays (13th century, 15th century), a higher Romanesque choir (11th century, 12th century), a southern sacristy from the 18th century with a 17th-century substructure, and a southern storage room (early 19th century). The walls contain a wide variety of building materials, including Roman roof tiles. (Open Churches)
The sculpture on the facade of the church itself makes it clear to whom this church has been entrusted as its patron: Saint Martin, seen here on horseback, cutting through his cloak with his sword to give half to the beggar kneeling below. Inside the church itself, there is another sculpture depicting the famous scene, this time painted in color.
Translated by Google •
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