The abbey church
Introduction

Back to the introduction to Saint Georges abbey

Saint Georges de Boscherville abbey church

 

In 1113 Guillaume de Tancarville decided to found an abbey to replace the existing collegiate church, with the agreement of Henry I Beauclerc (Duke of Normandy and King of England). He called upon the Benedictine monks of St. Evroult en Ouche.

So the building of this Roman church made of Caumont stone took place from 1113 to 1140.

The Norman builders aimed to have very well-lit naves and they did this by means of tall, large windows, initially made possible by a wooden ceiling, which prevented uplift, although this was replaced by a Gothic vault in the 13th century.

 

The church is in the shape of a Latin cross, facing east. As is often the case in Normandy, it has galleries in the transept arms and a lantern tower erected at the transept crossing. The apse is in a rounded shape covered by a quarter sphere supported by enormous ribs.

The builders used the thick wall technique: at the last level the wall itself becomes thinner and, just in front, an elegant row of columns increases the overall strength. The church has numerous historiated capitals, with scenes showing characters.