The church of Saint Yves de Minihy-Tréguier is the mother church of the Saint Yves churches erected all over the world. Yves Hélory de Kermartin, Saint Yves, had a chapel built on his family lands in 1293. By a Testament produced in 1297, he protected her from any vehemence of taking possession later when her death came.
When it was canonized in 1347, the chapel was enlarged for the first time. Again, important works will enlarge it, embellish it in the 15th and 16th centuries. Finally in the 19th century, an additional span and a bell tower will be added to the building. A granite balustrade reminiscent of the cloister of the cathedral of Tréguier, pinnacles will adorn the exterior walls also in the 19th century.
Today, the church remains an important place of visit and pilgrimage. The contempt of time, the consequences of the successive structural modifications suffered by the building have led the municipality to engage in a very important work of interior and exterior restoration of the building for an amount of 2 million euros. This important investment can only be made with the financial and material support of the DRAC, as well as potential donors. The church has been classified as MH since 1923.
The restoration of the north and south façades has been completed and is being carried out over a period of four years. The third phase of work concerns the east and west gables with the bell tower. A final section will follow concerning the interior of the building as well as the furniture.
The joint work of removing all cement joints on the building and replacing them with lime sand joints is intended to remove moisture accumulated in the walls that threatens the stability of the building. Work is under way on the recovery of slabs, the creation of storm water drainage networks, the recovery of and treatment of structures, the recovery of frames, magnificent stained glass windows on the building, electricity, conservation and development of furniture. the attention of the restoration is focused in particular on the restoration of the painting representing the "Testament" of Saint Yves. This painting offers us the only written trace of Yves Hélory reached us. Inscribed in the register of movable objects, historical monuments, the painting representing this writing is a source of inspiration and a "living" testimony for the men of laws of which Yves Hélory is the Patron Saint. They come from all over the world to pay tribute to him, especially on the Day of Forgiveness in May each year. On that day thousands of people, including lawyers, lawyers, magistrates, came to honor their holy patron. They then accompany his Chief in procession from the Basilica of Tréguier where He is kept the rest of the year to return to his native lands of Kermartin. But it is the whole Tregor and far beyond that comes to greet his holy Patron that day. Whether for believers or non-believers, practising or not, Saint Yves remains a model and a spiritual guide of all actuality. He remains forever the defender of the "impartiality" of justice rendered. Whether one is rich or poor, if your cause was just Saint Yves defended you or gave you justice as such was your right. This explains the universality of this great man and the affection that is constantly devoted to him.
Inside the church, a beautiful polychrome wooden tryptic of "Saint Yves between the rich and the poor", emblem of the apostle of justice, restored in 2018, adorns the south wall of the choir. In the choir, a large polychrome wooden statue, classified, called "Virgin of Our Lady of Coatcolvezou" stands in front of a statue of Saint Yves representing him in priestly habit and giving alms. The north facade is decorated with a set of crucifixion in polychrome wood also classified.
In the choir, a very imposing Kersanton high altar, an architectural piece of rare finesse, symbolizes all the attention paid to the ornament of this building. The large stained-glass window of the choir composed of many light panels represents the life of Saint Yves from his childhood until the reception of his dead body on the morning of his death at the Cathedral of Tréguier. There we find the great episodes of the saint’s life, his education, his studies in Paris, his official duties, his service as a lawyer to the poorest, his life as an ascetic, as a tireless benefactor of the poorest and most deprived, and his life as a priest at the service of his Faith.
The visit can be free or commented by the volunteers of the association for the restoration of the building.