The church

Since the Gallo-Roman era and due to its privileged geographical position allowing the easy crossing of the valleys, Cailly has been an important communication hub giving it an important local influence. That is why, since the Merovingian period, it had hosted the seat of a dean administering 50 parishes, an abbey and 12 chapels in 1738 (Abbots Bunel and Tougard - Geography of Seine Inférieure. Rouen district pp170-175. 1879).

There is mention of the church in the 11th century. Hosberne, the first lord we know, donated it to the abbey of St Ouen; a donation that Roger, his son, confirmed in 1080 in the presence of the King of England.

"It is dedicated to St Martin, in the shape of a Latin cross, with a bell tower on the transepts. A portion dates from the Romanesque period, but only the apse remains visible. The square tower of the bell tower, built of white stone, dates from the 13th century, as well as the nave, with an addition of the 17th century and a portal from 1770. It was burned several times. [1] There are 16th-century tumulus slabs, including that of François de Mailloc, Baron de Cailly, bas-reliefs and 17th-century counter-tables, many of which come from the churches of Gouville and St Germain sous Cailly. (Abbé Cochet in his archaeological repertoire of Seine Inférieure published in 1871).

Many alterations were made in the 19th century with the building of the sacristy (1827), the removal of two chapels around 1810, the building of the plaster stage behind the altar and then, 1848, the replacement of the stained-glass windows partly financed by Marquise Neuville, Hippolyte Lemarchand, ...

A fraternity, dedicated to Saint Martin, was created on July 3, 1482, when the statutes were registered, later approved of in 1682. The fraternity was still present in 1714 as Bishop Claude Maur d'Aubigné cited it in his visit report .

[1] In 1472, for instance, when Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, allied with the English, continued war against France. Consequently, the village and the church were burned down (History of Neufchâtel in Bray, by Adrien Miton p. 40).

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