Saint-Jean church is neo-Gothic in style. It was built in the 1860s to replace the old church dating from the 12th century. The latter was no longer adapted to the size of the population and was in danger of ruin. The plaques on the aisle altars come from this church.
It was consecrated by Cardinal Matthieu, archbishop of Besançon, on 5 October 1865.
The statue of Saint John above the portal was sculpted by the town's mayor, Mr Couvreux-Wichard.
Another interesting feature of Saint-Jean church is the presence of Saint Eloi, patron saint of both goldsmiths and blacksmiths, and therefore of cutlers. His statue, from Vandeuvre sur Barse, can be seen leaning against the right-hand pillar closest to the choir.
In the third stained glass window in the south aisle, he is shown with his bishop's crozier and a blacksmith's hammer. At the entrance to the choir, a statue shows him with an anvil at his feet. This massive anvil is typical of those used in the cutlery industry, with a square and a round tip.
Saint Eloi was celebrated on 1 December. The whole town was jubilant; the factories were closed. The day began with a high mass, followed by a procession. The entire brotherhood, including the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Best Craftsmen in France), were present. The factory owners then invited their workers to a banquet. The day ended with song and dance. This tradition was lost in the 1950s.
In 2015, work began on the exterior to mark the 150th anniversary of the church, which featured a televised mass as part of the Lord's Day programme.
Eglise Saint-Jean de Nogent-le-Haut
