Churches in Paris and elsewhere

  Mennetou-sur-cher, France –   Saint Urbain   This is one of those very old village churches which is generally closed, but if you’re lucky, as you try the door, a passerby will tell you that everyone knows you have to go ask for the keys at the village hall, which happens to be open. In the said hall, they phone the person who lives next to the church who opens it up.   This church has been a listed building since 2013, but some of it dates from the 11th to 13th century ! Much of it was a convent in 1213.   Saint Urban was pope back in … 222 after the previous one got thrown out of a window by anti-Christian gangs. Urban had a big row with Hippolyte about whether slaves and patricians could sleep together. Urban was also one of those modernists who wanted mass in Latin rather than  Greek. You know the sort. Hippolyte set himself up as an alternative pope for a while. Lots of fine imagery. In particular I liked the annunciation bas relief. The very old alms box is also very ch