Restoration of the tower of Our Lady of the Assumption,

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Manche.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY (concerning the tower)

XI century.  Construction of the first single-nave church (then known as St. Mary
Poupeville)
XII century.  Expansion of the early church by construction of aisles on both sides of the nave and two transept arms on the original chancel, .
Late fourteenth century.  Further expansion of the church by rebuilding the chancel and adding a spire, like the one at Carentan, to the bell tower.

Early XVI century.  The spire collapses.
1540 onwards.  Reconstruction of the upper part of the tower in the current, unique, domed form.
1786.  A structural survey of the church reveals much wear and erosion in the stonework of the tower, as well as rotten structural timbers.
January 1840.  Destruction of the upper part of the tower by a lightning strike (most of the dome is destroyed, rubble fell inside the tower, taking down the floor of the the belfry, the bells, the clock and the ceiling of the transept.)

1841-1848.  Reconstruction of the dome, setting up a lightning rod, restoration of the balustrades, the gargoyles and floor of the belfry.  Installation of the current bells.
1856.  Significant repairs again in the first gallery of the tower, to the octagonal part of the cupola.
1906.  Cleaning and repointing of all the walls of the tower, renewal of the high balustrade.
1907.  Belfry reconstruction.
1921.  Belfry consolidation and replacement of the bearings supporting the bells.
June 6, 1944  As the Allied troops land the tower is hit by shells on the south side.
1946-1947.  Restoration of the bell tower following the damage caused by the Second World War, requiring major scaffolding.
1949-1950.  Restoration of the north-west pillar of the transept.
1951.  Electrification of the bells
December 1999.  Degradation of the upper parts of the steeple struck by lightning
July 2003.  A safety net is placed over the dome after eroded stones fell from the lantern.
2015.  Installation of a new, bigger net over the tower.

The restoration work is enormous.  The lantern which supports the cross at the top of the tower, the dome and the octagonal section all need rebuilding.  Much of the carved stonework needs restoration or even replacement.  Even the doors giving access to the two balconies have become delapidated.

The fact that our church is a listed building requires us to go through authorized companies.
 

These works are scheduled over three years and shouls be completed in 2018.

Grants have been requested from the Regional Management of Cultural Affairs
(DRAC) and the Departmental Council.

The cost of this work is estimated at €550,000 T.T.C..

The balance, which we will have to finance ourselves, will be huge and cannot be met by the budget of the Commune.

Many people identify with this church and we want to work to bring support for the Commune to finance this restoration.  It is for this reason that the Association was created. The aim is to bring together all people of goodwill who want to work to safeguard this beautiful church that stands proudly in the middle of the village. We hope many of you will join the Association "Friends of the church of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont" and participate in the organized activities.

We will need all the goodwill there is. 

(Traduction Michael Shotton)