Temple protestant de Fresnes

Hidden in plain sight, the Temple protestant de Fresnes whispers tales of resilience. The Temple protestant de Fresnes stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Protestant community. The baron of Fresnes initially opposed the Protestant faith on his lands. Records show services were held in 1596 and 1597, against his wishes. However, a compromise was reached. The baron allowed a temple to be built in the nearby village of La Torrière. The land was donated by the sons of Jean Thoury on April 8, 1611. The deed specified its location along the Fresnes to Tinchebray road, its size, roughly 16 meters long, and its two doors at each end. The Temple protestant de Fresnes served a wide area, including Fresnes, Montsecret, Tinchebray, Saint-Quentin-les-Chardonnets, and Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont. By 1670, around 650 Protestants remained, with 350 to 400 residing in Fresnes itself. This represented almost a quarter of the population. Families like the Bazins, Buffards, and Chrestiens were among those who embraced the Reformed faith. The temple at La Torrière had a succession of pastors. David Bourget served from 1611 to 1631. Guillaume Blanchard followed from 1632 to 1647. A pastor from Condé, Mr. Marchand, filled in from 1647 to 1656. Pierre de Haupaës led the congregation from 1657 to 1674. Finally, Jacques Cairon served from 1674 until the temple’s closure. These pastors also preached to the reformed elite of Vire, who gathered at La Gallonnière in Neuville. Sadly, just five years before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Louis XIV ordered the temple’s demolition. The decree, issued on May 31, 1680, silenced the Protestant voice in Fresnes and La Torrière. The stones of the Temple protestant de Fresnes were not forgotten. They were used to build the tower of the Notre-Dame church in Fresnes, completed in 1685. The bell found a new home at Saint-Sauveur church in Condé. The land became property of the Fresnes commune. Yet the spirit of the Temple protestant de Fresnes lives on. It echoes in the families who kept their faith and in the very stones repurposed into new structures. The Temple protestant de Fresnes stands as a silent reminder of a vibrant past and the resilience of faith.