St Martin aux Bois is a town of 296 inhabitants located on the Picardy plateau in the Oise (60).
The abbey was founded at the end of the 11th century in a place called "Ruricourt" (Ancestor ST Martin aux Bois) by the regular canons of St. Augustine. Between 1245 and 1260, the church is built.
This magnificent building is very slender, its height reaches 27 meters under the vault. The apse has seven windows that rise to the top of the building and amplifies this effect of elevation.
They are each divided into three lancets. An arcature divides the windows into two parts, the lower part is composed in its height of 12 straight panels and a lancet head, the upper part of 14 straight panels and a lancet head, all surmounted by a network of a trilobe . Each of the seven canopies presents this configuration.
These ornamental canopies are composed of a decoration of grisailles which varies between the windows and even between the high and low parts of each one.
The ensemble was strongly restored during the 19th and 20th centuries. The proportion of authentic pieces varies according to the windows, some with many panels of the thirteenth, others having no element.
The abbey was classified a historical monument in 1840.
Many restorations have been made such as stalls, a mural and the pulpit to preach ...
Stalls
The mural
The pulpit to preach
Two associations work on the one hand to promote the heritage, and on the other hand to find sponsors to finance the restoration of the furniture or the building as such.
Free guided tours are organized by the "Stalles de Picardie" association either on request or on Sunday afternoons in July and August. The season is opened by the "Estivals" gathering artisans of crafts.
Conferences are organized and we participate each year in September in the European Heritage Days.
The Association of Friends of the Augustinian Abbey of St Matin aux Bois makes sure to find, for the town, patrons for the restoration of the building.
Today, we want to restore the 7 stained glass windows of the apse. Indeed, they deteriorate considerably, as well as the mullions (masonry) which weaken the whole building.
Our municipality that has this jewel, can not afford to meet the expenses for restoration.
Even though we have grants from the DRAC and the County Council of Oise, there is still 20% to find.
The objective of this campaign is to participate in financing part of the rest of the municipality for a bay to the tune of 9 000 €.
The overall amount of the restoration is € 1,100,000. The rest for the municipality is 220 000 €. This will help to finance other bays
It is possible to support this project:
- by an online donation on this page, after registration and connection on www.dartagnans.fr
- by bank transfer on this page, after registration and connection on www.dartagnans.fr
- by sending a check payable to the Association of Friends of the Augustinian Abbey of St Martin aux Bois, specifying your email address, to the following address:
DARTAGNANS
Countryside Abbey of St Martin aux Bois
1 Rue de Châteaudun
75009 Paris France
We thank you in advance for your generous donations! Every donation counts a lot for us!
Contact us : Town hall
543 rue de l'ABBAYE
60420 ST MARTIN AUX BOIS
03 44 51 03 55
http://www.saint-martin-aux-bois.org./ http://saint.martin60.pagesperso-orange.fr/
