Saint-Quentin Church

The Saint-Quentin church is a Catholic parish church located in Nucourt, France. As for many other churches in the Vexin region, the simple rectangular plan and the relative homogeneity of the exterior elevations, due to the renovation of a good part of the windows, hide in reality a complex building of great stylistic diversity. The church of Nucourt is especially remarkable for its location far from any habitation, and for its two bell towers from two different periods. The western bell tower, unfinished, is of Renaissance style, and dates from about 1560. The central bell tower is in the early Gothic style, and dates from around 1175. It can be considered as the archetype of the gothic bell towers of the Vexin. Its base and the south cross are a little earlier, and constitute the oldest parts of the church. Otherwise, one distinguishes mainly the nave of three bays accompanied by two aisles, which are still influenced by the late flamboyant style but already belong to the Renaissance, and the gothic choir of two bays accompanied by two chapels, which were built in three distinct campaigns between 1210 / 1220 and the beginning of the XIVth century. The entire central nave is on two levels of elevation, but completely devoid of side windows. More than for its architecture, which does not reach the same level as the most accomplished churches of the region, the church of Saint-Quentin is remarkable for its large stone altarpiece from the end of the first third of the 16th century. Like most altarpieces of the period, it illustrates the Passion of Christ, but it was sculpted by an artist of uncommon dexterity, and seduces as much by the truth of the gestures and attitudes of the characters, as by the profusion of the decoration and the plasticity of the scenes, which has nothing to envy to the wooden altarpieces. The painted panels that once formed the shutters of the altarpiece have unfortunately had to be put on deposit for security reasons. They are dedicated to the martyrdom of Saint Quentin, patron saint of the church. The church was classified as a historical monument by decree of March 24, 1915, and was restored during the second half of the 20th century. Today it is affiliated to the parish sector of Vexin-Ouest with its seat in Magny-en-Vexin, and only welcomes two or three early Sunday masses per year, on Saturdays at 6 pm.