St Peter's Church is a church in

Le Crotoy Le Crotoy (; Picard: ''Ch'Crotoé'') is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. The inhabitants are known as ''Crotellois''. History Isabella of France, queen consort of England, and her son (later Edward III ...

, a coastal town at the Bay of the

Somme __NOTOC__ Somme or The Somme may refer to: Places *Somme (department), a department of France * Somme, Queensland, Australia * Canal de la Somme, a canal in France *Somme (river), a river in France Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Somme'' (book), ...

river in

Picardy Picardy (; Picard language, Picard and , , ) is a historical and cultural territory and a former regions of France, administrative region located in northern France. The first mentions of this province date back to the Middle Ages: it gained it ...

in northern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The church is remarkable for its front tower built in the 13th century and its interior. An ancient map of Le Cotoy and its fortress can be found in the church along with an altarpiece depicting the life of St. Honoré who lived in the 15th century, as well as ex voto ships.

History

The St Peter's Church was formerly called Notre Dame Church and was the parish church of Le Crotoy. This sailors' chapel, dedicated to St Peter, was located in the St Peter Street in Le Crotoy, on the spot were today the St Peter's church can be found. The old church, like the one in

Saint-Valery-sur-Somme Saint-Valery-sur-Somme (, literally ''Saint-Valery on Somme''; ), commune in the Somme department, is a seaport and resort on the south bank of the River Somme estuary. The town's medieval character and ramparts, its Gothic church and long water ...

, had two parallel aisles and was surrounded by the cemetery. The building was such a dilapidated state that in 1850 the mayor and the priest decided to rebuild it. Both ships were destroyed and only the front tower of the 13th century was preserved. The work was completed in February 1865.

Altarpiece of St. Honoré

The altarpiece dating back to the end of the 15th century was originally part of the Thuison abbey in

Abbeville Abbeville (; ; ) is a commune in the Somme department and in Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It is the of one of the arrondissements of Somme. Located on the river Somme, it was the capital of Ponthieu. Geography Location A ...

. During the French Revolution in 1789 the altarpiece was sold, just like all other goods of the monastery, and bought by an antique dealer in Abbeville. In 1792 the abbot Delahaye, a refugee at his father in Le Crotoy, noticed the altar and the altarpiece at the antique dealer. Together with his father he purchased the altarpiece and offered it to the parish. The figures depicted on the altarpiece are dressed in a fashion that was common for the end of the 14th century. The three figures depict: * Left: St Honoré is ordained bishop * Center: St Honoré celebrates the mass. * Right: In the presence of St Honoré, 3 bodies of Picardian martyrs are being discovered: St Fuscien, St Victoric and St Gentien.Leaflet in St Peter's church

References

{{Authority control Churches in Somme (department)