53 Paris 12th arrondissement Saint Marcel: designed by the Michelin man
You will have noticed
that religion has less influence than it did a few decades ago. In general, I
think this is a good thing, but the downside is that churches are fairly often
closed when you want to visit them. So this is one of those churches I had to come back to a few months later to complete my photo shoot.
The church was opened in 1966 and replaced a previous building which was in ruins. Daniel Michelin was the architect. He must have been tired after that (I'll get my coat). Seriously though, Daniel was the grandson of the well-known founder of the tyre manufacturers and of the tourist guidebooks.
I am a sucker for modern churches, and this one has a stunning baptismal font, with a representation of your old friend the Holy Spirit, I think. It also has a stylish virgin and child, and crucifix, and the enamelled modern stations of the cross (by Francesca Guerrier) are impressive. In the entrance there is a revisiting of stained glass with translucent slabs of coloured glass.
St Marcel was a fourth century Church bigwig. He is said to have defeated a dragon which was attacking Paris and devouring women of easy virtue.
