The church

The history of Notre Dame de l’Assomption church in Frichemesnil spreads back over several centuries. It stands in the very heart of the village and is built of sandstone, flint and chalk stone. The different stages of its construction go back to the 18th century for its pinion, and the 16th and 17th centuries for its unique nave. It was placed under the patronage of the Lords of Clères and its name originates from a charitable brotherhood dedicated to Notre Dame, created in 1461 and reapproved in 1513.

The interior of the church retains several exceptional element , including  octagonal, bowl-shaped, stone fonts and a pulpit dating from the 16th century. A magnificent 17th century altar-piece adorns the main altar and the present day stained-glass windows were created in 1953 by Mauméjean.

The history of the church is punctuated by numerous specific events. During the French revolution the July 1793 laws of requisition led to the dimantling of one of the two church bells, weighing about 425 tons, leaving only the larger bell, judged to be quite insufficient for the commune. This bell dates from 1704 and it was baptised on 4th December that year with the name Madeleine Marie Cécile. Its godparents were Messire François Martel, the son of the Count of Clères, and Demoiselle Madeleine Marie Cécile Maignard de Bernils. François III Martel, the son of Charles Martel II, named the bell. The Martels were effectively the lords and patrons of Frichemesnil. A commemorative plaque also tells of the Auber family; Robert Auber and his wife Catherine Quinel, who died in 1663 and their daughters Marie and Catherine,  who died in 1680 and 1681 respectively. Their son, Ioannes Auber, placed the epitaph in 1686 and founded masses and a De Profundis. Later, a rent associated with this foundation was to pose several problems.

In 1714 the church received a visit from Monseigneur Claude Maur d’Aubigné, the archbishop of Rouen. His report signalled the need for numerous repairs and improvements. The altar-piece was beginning to lose its gilding, various things from the choir and the sanctuary were missing, ( paving stones, flooring, paneling, balustrades), the chapel altars were badly decorated and had no consecrated stones, and some images were considered indecent. Structural problems were revealed, such as the floor beneath the bell tower, stained-glass windows, the nave paneling, and the bell-tower roof. The presence of a thatched and clay-walled oven and adjoining walls near the sacristy was also noted. The archbishop also pointed out the lack of decoration and linen and the poor condition of the liturgical books and sacred vases, the bad account-keeping and the non-payment of rent by  inheritors of Jean-Auber. The absence of a school for young girls and the hunting activities of the priest were also mentioned. Subsequently, on 14th October 1714, the archbishop issued an order to carry out the following works :  (create a double door to the tabernacle, gild the ciborium, repair the altars and chapels, rebind the books,  tile the oven roof) and to respect the obligations of keeping good accounts, finding a schoolmistress for the girls, creating a  prayer ceremony for the deceased and prohibiting hunting by the priest).

More recently the church has undergone major renovation work, lasting eleven years from 1991 to 2002, and has been restored to its former beauty. The original character of its facade was revealed through the restoration of the flint and stone. On the inside, the works consolidated the structure and renewed the walls and floors, and, importantly, an ancient tomb was revealed. The church furniture, which included several classified pieces, such as the altar-piece, was very carefully restored. The price for all  this work was 193 000 euros (excluding tax on the furniture) and was financed by the commune, the department and the state. The church inauguration,  in May 2002, was attended by numerous personalities, including Monseigneur Duval, and was applauded for its success in reanimating history and enriching heritage.

In this way the restored church continued to set the rhythm of village life.