Author: Pierre

2025 Annual General Meeting

Our Association held its Annual General Meeting on Saturday April 26 in the church of Tocqueville, in the presence of Chantal Ducouret, Mayor of Tocqueville. Our President Denis Onfroy welcomed the participants and recalled the close and constructive relationship that has always existed between the municipality and the association, which was created in April 2009.

This was an opportunity to review all the restoration work carried out on the church over the last 16 years by the Commune de Tocqueville, with the active support of our Association, and in particular the major programme of damp-proofing the walls and floor, which was completed in October 2024; this last programme, like the previous ones, was the subject of an agreement between the Commune, the Association and the Fondation du Patrimoine, for the collection of donations, which is now closed.

However, there is still work to be done, and the schedule is currently under review. We’ll keep you informed of any decisions taken, including the establishment, with the Fondation du Patrimoine.

In any case, our Association will continue to operate, if only to enable our volunteers to carry out many tasks that do not require the intervention of contractors.

In 2024, our Association, with some sixty members and donors, organized several events, and the 2025 program includes the official inauguration of the work on July 5, the Book Fair on July 12, 13 & 14, the Discovery Walk on Saturday July 26, and participation in the Heritage Days in September.

In accordance with the company’s articles of association, one third of the 12-member Board of Directors was renewed. The incumbents, who stood for re-election, were re-elected. At a meeting on May 10, the Board of Directors re-elected the officers elected in 2024.

The annual subscription remains at €5. The 2025 membership form also allows you to make a donation to our Association. We appreciate your interest in preserving our heritage and thank you in advance for your participation and help.

Church’s works : where do we stand?

Following 2024 summer, which was marked by a number of events organized by our Association, including a book fair, a walk in the footsteps of Alexis de Tocqueville and participation in the European Heritage Days, it’s time to review the works being carried out on the church.

Works began in 2008, undertaken by the commune of Tocqueville with the support of our Association, created in 2009. This has been carried out in three main phases, the third of which, devoted to combating dampness in the floors and walls, has just been completed.

The works were financed with the help of public bodies: Département, Région, Préfecture, as well as the Fondation du Patrimoine, via donations and subsidies.

The first phase (2008-2016) involved the complete repair of the church roof and bell tower, renovation of the 16 stained glass windows and mullions, replacement of the bell tower’s bells and whistles, safety measures for the bell tower, and repair of the interior plasterwork in the choir and chapels, which had deteriorated because of damp.

A second phase (2017-2021) saw the painting of the exterior Sacré-Coeur statue, the installation of indirect interior Led lighting to enhance the edifice, the restoration of the listed painting The Sacrifice of Abraham, and the renovation of the high altar with its altarpiece, statues and painting The Resurrection. While restoring the altarpiece, two adoring angels were discovered, originally masked by faux-marble paint. Under the high altar, a large granite altar stone was found, which has since been installed in the south aisle.

Azenay terracotta floor

The third phase (2023-2024) was mainly devoted to combating damp, with a complete overhaul of the floors of the nave, aisles and chapels, and the replacement of cement plaster on the lower walls with lime plaster. The north-side forecourt was also landscaped, an external staircase was created to access the sacristy, and the 13th-century lancets windows in the east chevet, visible in the sacristy, were restored.

Floor and walls after restoration
The north forecourt

At the same time, a number of works were carried out by local volunteers: restoration of the choir’s oak stalls, damaged by damp, the lectern, baptismal fonts, stations of the Stations of the Cross and velvet-covered seats, as well as the creation of information panels for visitors to the church. The chairs in the nave were also replaced, financed by our Association.

Stairway to sacristy

After fifteen years of intense activity, there is still work to be done in order to restore and maintain our Saint-Laurent church. A program is currently being drawn up, which will need to be accompanied by a search for funding.