Église Saint-Prix, Saint-Prix

Saint-Prix Church is a Catholic parish church located in Saint-Prix, Val-d'Oise, France. The first Romanesque church, to which the cornices to the east and west of the base of the bell tower may belong, was given to the abbey of Saint-Martin de Pontoise around 1085, and a priory was founded at the same time. The patron saint of the parish was then Saint Germain. From the end of the 12th century until about 1220, the church was entirely rebuilt in the primitive Gothic style, and it retains the general plan and layout from this period, but very few elements in elevation: these are essentially the capitals on the north side of the nave; the eastern piers of the bell tower, which rises above the transept crossing; the belfry floor of the bell tower; and the high blocked windows in the right part of the choir. In the 15th century, the rise of the pilgrimage of Saint Prix, whose relics the church probably possessed from the beginning, made this second patron saint supplant the first, which had long since faded away. After the Hundred Years' War, the church was almost entirely rebuilt for a second time: first the nave was vaulted in the flamboyant Gothic style at the end of the 15th century, then during the second half of the 16th century, the large arcades were rebuilt underneath, the side aisles were almost entirely rebuilt, and a new apse was built on the foundations of the old one. From then on, the dominant style of the church was that of the Renaissance, even if the structure remained Gothic. In the 17th century, a sacristy and chapels were added in front of the south aisle. The chapels, as well as the first bay of the nave, were unfortunately partially demolished around 1836, and the remodeling at the end of the 19th century further modified the exterior appearance of the nave. The church of Saint-Prix was registered as a historical monument by decree of June 16, 1926. Its interest lies largely in its architectural complexity, which is particularly noticeable inside, and in its rich furnishings. The town of Saint-Prix is now part of a parish grouping with Eaubonne, Montlignon and Margency, and Sunday masses are celebrated in the church of Notre-Dame de la Vallée. The spiritual life of the Saint-Prix church has been impoverished, and only one anticipated Sunday mass is celebrated per month.