4. Rilly-la-Montagne to Reims

The oldest parts of the building are located in the nave and the bell tower (12th century), as evidenced by the imposts of the large arcades. The transept and the choir have crossbows with warheads resting on Corinthian capitals dating from the 15th century; on the other hand, the filling of the bays is characteristic of the 16th century. The sacristy, built in the northeast corner, was erected in 1587 and hides part of the bays of the north chevet (Chantal Declercq). The 2nd transept and the choir are raised above the rest of the building, and present a mixture of the original 15th-century revival construction and post-war reconstruction (1920s). The nave was once preceded by a porch, probably destroyed in the 4th quarter of the 17th century (Chantal Declercq). In 1920, the war damage mentioned only concerns the covers and the stained glass windows (AD Marne, Reims. 10 R 3209). It was mainly the allied bombings of 1940-1945 and the lightning of 1948 which caused greater damage, located in the choir and the arrow, which were rebuilt. The work lasted until 1952.

This church symbolizes the conversion of the Franks to Catholicism, through the baptism of Clovis by Saint-Rémi, bishop of Rheims between 495 and 500. Although the baptism was celebrated in the cathedral of Rheims, the relics of Saint-Remi were buried in a church that would become the eponymous basilica. In the 7th century a Benedictine religious community settled in a monastery near the relics of the Saint. In the 9th century a new Carolingian basilica was built, replaced a century later by a building in French-speaking Switzerland. The congregation of Saint-Maur carries out important works in a flamboyant 16th century style.
More information: Wikipedia