As Philippe Surplie contemplated the ravages caused by time to the structure of the 1,000-year-old church in Sérifontaine, northern France, he seemed overcome by "the scale of the task" of restoring the edifice. "It's a mountain. And the mountain is getting bigger and bigger," said the 74-year-old deputy mayor with concern, standing close to the high altar, which has been neglected since the church was closed in January 2023 due to its dangerous condition.

The radical decision to close the church was taken by the town's independent mayor after a hanging key (a keystone with a carved pendant) fell, revealing extensive damage such as a collapsing roof and numerous cracks. Since the closure of the Saint-Denis church, this town of 2,700 residents has been deprived of all religious ceremonies. Only the bells, which still ring out in the town every hour on the hour, have withstood the wear and tear. "When the town's inhabitants have to organize a funeral or a wedding somewhere else, it comes as a shock," sighed Surplie.

However, before the church, which has been listed as a historical monument since 1928, can be considered for reopening, major work is required, at an estimated cost of around €2 million. A tall order for a town with an annual budget of €3 million. Like Sérifontaine, many towns – which are responsible for the maintenance and restoration of religious buildings erected before the 1905 law on the separation of the Churches and State – are faced with the deterioration of their churches and the cost of the work.

Decline in attendance

"Most of the time, we're dealing with emergency work, because regular maintenance has been inadequate and repairs put off," which adds to the bill in the long run, explained Philippe Delort, mayor of Saint-Flour, a southern town. For these local officials, the question arises as to the usefulness of committing such resources to monuments that are also suffering from a decline in visitor numbers, with the fall in Catholic practice throughout the country.

This situation prompted the Catholic Church in France to launch a project in September 2023 to review its religious heritage. At least 1,600 of the 40,000 religious buildings under the responsibility of local authorities are currently closed, mainly due to dilapidation, according to a report published on Monday, November 18. According to the French Observatory for Religious Heritage, between 2,500 and 5,000 churches may even be abandoned, sold or destroyed by 2030. "A country that cannot take care of its heritage is a country that cannot take care of its future," warned Culture Minister Rachida Dati on Monday evening at the conclusion of the project.

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