Eglise Saint Pierre et Saint Paul

This church replaced the primitive building located on the other side of the road, in front of the postern of the castle, at the level of the Timmerman family house. It was placed under the invocation of Saint Mary Magdalene. The current building, placed under the invocation of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, presents an interesting architectural composition in the shape of a cloverleaf from the second half of the 16th century, a period of the renaissance in a very classical style. This church is due to the initiative of Cardinal Nicolas de Pellevé whose parents were lords of Jouy. His objective was certainly to provide a dignified setting for the tomb and mausoleums of this family. The confiscation of the revenues of the Cardinal in 1585, the main leader of the league, interrupted the completion of the nave and the front portal. Built in ashlar and flint, it is decorated inside and outside with fluted pilasters supporting a molded cornice, a layout found in the castle of Liancourt-Saint-Pierre (Oise), the country residence of Cardinal de Pellevé. The vaults, executed in 1606 and 1607 at the request of Françoise de Pellevé, the Cardinal's niece, have sculpted ribs at each intersection and the arms of the De Pellevé family, "Gules with a human head of flesh with bristly hair of gold". The niches at the bottom of the side chapels contained the recumbent figures of this family, which were dismantled and sold during the Revolution. The beautifully crafted furniture is mostly from the 18th century and is the work of a workshop in Gisors (Eure), a town near Jouy-sous-Thelle. The restored high altar was once connected to the choir's panelling and concealed the sacristy. In the 19th century, in a spirit of modernism, it was replaced by an altar in the style of Henry II, relegating the old one to the entrance porch, which was thus exposed to the elements! The interesting 16th century rood beam presents Christ on the cross accompanied by Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint John and two angels collecting the blood spurting from Christ's wounds. The side altars, whose paintings were restored in 2009, depict Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the left hand side handing the scapulars to St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The painting originally featured rosaries, which were abandoned in favor of the scapulars. The altar on the right is attributed to Saint Roch and his Dog, a saint invoked against the plague. The late Mrs. Hélène Mauvais presented the history of their restoration. The bell tower, originally placed above the choir, was erected in 1743 at the crossing of the transept. This change led to strong protests from the inhabitants. Indeed, the bell tower placed on the choir was the responsibility of the big decimators (people who raised the tithe), and the fact of placing it at the crossing of the transept it passed to the load of the inhabitants, who usefully pointed out that two angles of the choir supported half of the frame. Reason prevailed and it appears today in its 18th century design. The sacristy and the porch, built in brick in the 19th century, do not contribute to the embellishment of the church, even if they are really useful. The church was consecrated on September 14, 1588 by Jean de Lesley, Vicar General of the Archbishop of Rouen, which suggests that it was finished and usable. It had a cemetery which was transferred in 1866 to its present location, and it was classified as a historical monument in 1921. After the restoration of the paintings and the access steps to the church (in cut stone), also restored in 2009, an inaugural ceremony in the presence of Father Philippe Gruson, Priest of the Parish of Auneuil, Mr. Philippe Marini, Senator-Mayor of Compiègne, Mr. Bruno Oguez, General Councillor of the Canton of Auneuil and Mr. Hervé Lefèvre, Mayor of Jouy-sous-Thelle, took place on June 12, 2009. A concert of sacred music followed, performed on the organ by Mr. Jean-Pierre Millioud (titular organist of the great historical organs of the Cathedral Saint-Louis of Versailles) and on the voice by the soprano, Mrs. Annick Echalier-Millioud (Choirmaster of the " Choeur Mixte du Confluent " of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Yvelines). Roland LETAILLEUR

DATAtourisme France