Between the years 942 and 945, the church of Saint-Pierre de Melle was donated by William III of Aquitaine (known as Towhead, 910–963) to the Abbey of Saint-Maixent, located nearby, which established a modest priory there. The site also served as a parish church, and later the clergy appointed from Saint-Maixent retained the title of prior.
The church is a Romanesque building from the 12th century, with three naves, a transept, and a three-apsed chevet, built over an earlier Carolingian structure. It preserves a notable decorated southern portal and sculpted capitals inside. It has been restored, and some parts — such as the bell tower — have been renewed.
Person pulling out a thorn
Birds
Burial scene
Church floor plan
Illustration from Melle (1913)
Bibliography:
- BEAUCHET-FILLEAU, Henri (1890). Notes diverses pour servir à l'histoire de la ville de Melle. Melle: Lacuve
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- DURET, Patricia (2004). Melle. Église Saint-Pierre. Congrès archéologique de France, 159e session, 2001, Deux-Sèvres. Société française d’archéologie
- LEFÈVRE-PONTALIS, Eugène (1913). Melle. Congrès archéologique de France. 79 ss. Angoulême
- LÉVRIER, Gabriel (1869). Précis historique sur la ville de Melle. Melle: Moreau-Lacuve
- OURSEL, Raymond (1984). Haut-Poitou roman. La nuit des temps, 42. Zodiaque
Location:
Melle is located east of Niort