150 Churches in Paris and elsewhere

Marcq en Baroeul, France, Saint Paul, come see the horrors I am a sucker for modern churches but I find this is a particularly fine specimen, with an elegant shape, all built in brick, and including highly original Stations of the Cross, lovely stained glass windows and a series of bas-reliefs on horrors of the world (Intolerance, War etc… you know who you are). Ths stained glass, finished in 1968, includes an impressive Annunciation. The church was opened in 1964 - Marcq en Baroeil is close to Lille in the North of France - we were visiting friends here. The internet tells me it is in Cistercian Flemish style.

191 Paris, France, St Anthony of Padua. Fabulous 1930s church with lots of chunky bits - I particularly liked the Stations of the Cross and the pulpit. Plenty of reinforced concrete. Quotations from St Anthony on how being rich is really not cool are displayed. The noticeboard announces free homework help classes. St Anthony’s story is told in a 1949 Italian film … He was a thirteenth century Portuguese priest. According to legend, when he died young children wept  in the streets of the town and all the church bells rang of their own accord.