L'église Sainte-Anne

The 19th-century church of Sainte-Anne de Vue replaces the former 11th-century church of Saint-Philibert.

The church of Sainte-Anne de Vue is a fine illustration of the region's architectural and religious history.


A rich and eventful history

The current church was built in the 19th century. It was built to replace the former Sainte-Anne chapel, which was in danger of ruin, and Saint-Philbert church, destroyed during the Vendée wars.


The origins of the church were tumultuous: while Saint-Philibert was burnt down and rebuilt, the local people built an emergency chapel alongside it. This was used as a place of worship during the French Revolution.
It was enlarged to accommodate the faithful and became the parish church from 1801 to 1855.
A necessary reconstruction: faced with the deterioration of the Sainte-Anne chapel, the decision was taken to build a new church. Work began in the mid-19th century and was spread over several years. The foundation stone was laid on 23 June 1854. Labourers worked on the bell tower until Easter 1856.
The work was completed on 11 November 1868 with the installation of the ball crowning the spire.
A building marked by events : The statue of Saint Anne, enthroned above the entrance porch, is the work of the Nantes sculptor Potet. It was blessed on 26 July 1882.
The church was naturally dedicated to Saint Anne. In fact, the parish priest at the time insisted on keeping this patronage in view of the importance of pilgrimages.
Every year, on 26 July, a mass is celebrated in the church to pay homage to the saint.
The church of Sainte-Anne has not been spared the vagaries of time. It suffered a violent fire at the beginning of the 20th century, necessitating major restoration work (see below: Did you know?).



Characteristic architecture and exceptional furnishings

Sainte-Anne church is a remarkable building, reflecting the architectural style of its era.


Local materials: the stone used in the construction comes from the Ilette quarry in Vue, reflecting the local roots of the building.
An emblematic bell tower: the church's bell tower is a striking feature of its architecture. It was built several years after the rest of the building was completed.
A wealth of furnishings: inside, the church houses some interesting furnishings, including a stone baptismal font, as well as :
- A gilded silver chalice and paten from the 17th century, said to have come from Buzay Abbey. The chalice, adorned with a crowned "C", is decorated with a mitred head, a crozier and the hand of justice. In view of its great value, it is not visible inside the church.
- A 19th-century reliquary. This reliquary contains a piece of Saint Anne's bone from Apt Cathedral. On 26 July 1846, a grand celebration was held to mark the transfer of this relic. The reliquary was a gift from Mlle Victoire Chérau de Vue.
- The granite baptistery dates from the early Middle Ages. It certainly comes from the former church of Saint-Philbert.
- The altar to the right of the main entrance dates from the 19th century. It comes from the chapel of La Blanchardais.
- The high altar. Created by Potet, a sculptor from Nantes, the altar was inaugurated on 13 April 1879.
- The altarpiece depicts Saint Anne.
- A statue of Saint Anne, possibly from the Renaissance.
- A statue of Saint Philbert dating from the 19th century. Located in the right transept of the church, it honours the parish's first patron saint, the founder of Noirmoutier Abbey. The saint and his monks criss-crossed the Pays de Retz in the 7th century. He founded a priory at Vue and established the cult of St Anne there.



A place of worship and heritage

Today, Sainte-Anne church is an active place of worship, but it is also an important architectural and historical heritage site for the commune of Vue. The church regularly hosts religious celebrations and cultural events.




Did you know?
On 11 August 1923, a fire caused extensive damage to the church roof. The entire framework and roof were destroyed, as was the sacristy where the fire broke out. It seems that a candle that had been left burning had ignited a canopy.


To consult the mass times for the parish of Sainte Anne - Françoise en Retz: click here
The parish of Sainte Anne - Françoise en Retz comprises eight churches: Saint-Mars-de-Coutais, Port-Saint-Père, Rouans, Vue, Sainte-Pazanne, Saint-Hilaire-de-Chaléons, Arthon-en-Retz and Chéméré.