Église Notre Dame de Fougerayis on the edge of the village of Comery and was built by the Benedictine monks from the Abbey for the townsfolk. It is a huge, fairly plain building in need of TLC.
The nave is 12thC, with the apse and belfry added later. It is a simple Romanesque building with a short square tower above the transept. Entry is through the south door.
Inside there is a single nave with a stone bench round the sides which now has small wooden seats on top. There are simple wooden pews in the nave. There is a wall mounted wooden pulpit, small framed paintings of the Stations of the Cross on the walls and a painted crucifix on the north wall. There are no windows on the north wall. There are traces of a fresco on the north wall, described as "Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels".
The south wall has round topped windows with plain glass. At back is a large stone font dating from the 13thC with four grotesque heads carved round the top.
The pillars supporting the transept arches have carved capitols. There is a small wooden mass altar with linen fold carving. Behind is a stone high altar with host box topped with a cupola and cross. The 15thC wooden choir stalls with misericords were originally in the Abbey church. Behind the high altar are three round topped windows which have smaller windows above with carved statues between them.
South apse has an altar with a statue of the Virgin and Child and marble ‘merci’ plates on the walls. North Apse altar has a statue of Joseph with the young Jesus.
There is nothing special about the church, but it is an unspoilt example of a 12thC building. Comery receives few visitors which is a shame as as well as the church there are the ruins of the Benedictine monastery scattered round the town. It is a bit like going on a treasure hunt to find these.
