The Church of the Sacred Heart of Cholet, in the department of Maine-et-Loire, was built from 1937 to 1941. It is located in the northwest of the city, in the district of Terre Jaune, which was before the Second war in full swing and whose population was working class.
The vicar of this new parish, Louis Cesbron, was in charge of the construction site and he was particularly active in raising the necessary funding. Notables but also faithful parishioners made their contribution, and testifies to it for example a glass roof called "stained glass of the Maids", carried out thanks to the donations of the servants.
The plans for the building were designed by Cholet architect Maurice Laurentin, who used modern and technically original techniques. In the Romano-Byzantine style, the church has a concrete structure and the external facings are diverse: granite, brick, tile but also materials from the region such as Pineau stone, blue granite from Vezins, pink granite from Saint- Macarius.
It is also said that part of the necessary cement has been diverted, coming from stocks intended for the construction of the "Atlantic wall".
The stained glass windows were made by the Bordereau workshop in Angers, based on drawings by the architect, and the murals and mosaics were designed by Charles Mauméjean's workshop. The Parisian artist Henri Genévrier is finally the author of the decorations and murals of the baptistery of the central door as well as the panels. It was Father Cesbron who decided on the theme of the main central fresco. Finally, note the astonishing altar of Saint-Joseph, reminiscent of a wooden workbench…
Of imposing size, the church now listed in the Inventory has recently been restored, as has its carillon.
Open daily. Free or guided visit. Information on +33 6 29 07 22 76.
