ASSOCIATION OF VALLY'S AGRICULTURE COMPANY
The defence of heritage in all its forms, religious or secular, has become a genuine commitment.
The Church of St.Martin has always been open to the local population, for believers, of course, who have been able to worship and pray there, but also for non-believers, who have been able and can always find a place of peace and contemplation, away from the noise and whirlwind of daily life.
The Church of St.Martin has a central role for our commune, not only geographically, but by ringing bells or pendulums that attract the attention of passers-by. This rhythm of hours and the ringing of the Angelus, show the role that it still plays in organizing the rhythm of community life.
The word church comes from Latin « ecclesia », which itself came from the ancient Greek who originally meant « an assembly », especially an assembly of the people or citizens summoned. The first Christians adopted this word to designate their congregation, the community of faithful, who were called by God. Then the word ends up referring to the building where this community gathered for worship.
Bells: heritage of our villages.
It is the sign of a presence, of a history, of collective memories in our hearts.
Angelus is a Christian Triquotidian prayer of the Western Roman Catholic Church.
It is ringed three times a day.
TRINITY – Holy Trinity – Union of the three divine persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Its purpose is to:
- contribute to the preservation, restoration and protection of St. Martin's Church
- be a recognized interlocutor for all church-related issues, mainly with local authorities and institutions
- promote this heritage and related elements:
- organizing various events, concerts, conferences, events, exhibitions or other events
- by allowing the discovery of its church and village, and their history through the production and dissemination of brochures or the organization of guided tours with a volunteer guide
- conducting historical research
- by seeking ways of restoring and maintaining the church and its environment from public or private bodies.
The church Saint-Martin is the first to be part of the network "Churches Open France", in the region Centre Val de Loire since 20 May 2025.
It was recognized as being of general interest in 2024 and granted approval for the issuance of receipts eligible for tax deductions.
The current Bureau is composed of:
- Claudine Mouton: President
- Gabrielle Antz: Vice-President
- Serge Fournier: Honorary member
- Marie-France Lelièvre : treasurer
- Catherine Chevallier : secretary
The church represents 2,000 years of history.
A majority belongs to the municipalities. Whether you are Catholics or not, you can enter our churches. The Church of France is the largest museum in France. 6 out of 10 French enter a church in France with debate on its permanent opening (extract Director of the Heritage Foundation).
The maintenance of the building also has a clear tourist interest and is an investment because the passage of tourists generally brings local economic benefits.
The recording, for several years, of an increase in the number of visitors to churches is an element that must counterbalance the argument of the decline in the frequent attendance of the faithful. For a church to continue to live within a community, it must be animated to welcome the faithful and visitors who want to go there.
The St Martin church is open, in addition to the offices, every Friday and in summer on Fridays and Sundays. It has an increasing number of visitors.
❖ Visits 06 12 41 84 59, for about 1 hour.
(free participation is appreciated but not compulsory).
Paper guides are available to visitors with the main outstanding elements.
The association has translated these documents into 4 languages.
The association has published 5 historical brochures, about 40 pages each, on St Martin's Church, on the communal life of Vailly-sur-Sauldre over more than 3 centuries and souvenirs in Pays-Fort.
These brochures are available.
For more information, Send us a message.
Identity and aesthetic interests
The aesthetic aspect is a fundamental and sufficient reason alone to preserve the building and make every effort to safeguard it. The inhabitants are deeply attached to the aesthetic aspect of their living environment and do not want an architectural element as characteristic as our church to disappear.
Tourism interest
Our small town is concerned thanks to its remarkable heritage on the region and its Pyramidal Grange on the commune.
Prevention against the risk of degradation with our next objectives:
- to preserve the beauty of the church by projecting a restoration of the stained glass and its lighting to enhance them, while continuing the follow-up of the small regular maintenance work. These maintenance operations are mainly in the area of prevention. It is better to maintain than repair its heritage
- to consider a daily opening in 2026 and to continue the fund-raising in order to prepare the future major works which will most likely spread over several years and which will enhance the municipality in tourist terms
- welcoming more and more faithful
- provide signs at the entrances of the municipality.
