82: Clermont-Ferrand, France : Basilica Notre Dame du Port. Lectern of the year.

-

 

Clermont-Ferrand : Basilica Notre Dame du Port. Lectern of the year.

 This is a smallish Basilica with a crypt. It was mostly the statues and stuff which I liked. A modern crucifix or two, and an abstract wooden sculpture commemorating Saint James the apostle’s decision to pack in the fishing and go all disciple. There was also a crèche, because it was Christmas in Auvergne. But real highlight was my choice for lectern of the year.

Apparently there is also a miraculous statue of the Virgin … which I missed !

 The church is built in the Auvergnat romanesque style common in the region, and it was started in the 12th century. It was damaged by earthquakes at the end of the 15th century. It then has a bit of a Golden Age with lots of processions and gets itself an organ in 1740. During the French Revolution, the decision is taken to demolish it, but a petition by the locals manages to have it saved. The belltowers had already been demolished though, and the bells recycled. In the 19th century, a new belltower was built.

 The capitals ( the sculptured bits at the top of the columns) are particularly noteworthy and represent different tales from the Bible. And there are paintings of some renown – annunciation, fleeing to Egypt etc.












































Posts les plus consultés de ce blog

50. Montreal, Basilica of Notre Dame. Coolest Gothic revival pulpit

-
Image
  Montreal, Basilica of Notre Dame. Coolest Gothic revival pulpit   The wikipedia article says that the interior of the church is « one of the most dramatic in the world », and dead Gothic. Gets eleven million visitors a year, and last year I was one of them. My favourite ever pulpit. If you’re gonna preach   Good News About Eternal Life, you might as well do it perched on some decent furniture.   The stained glass windows here don’t bother with Bible stories, but depict scenes from the history of Montreal.   The other major highlight is the extra chapel behind the altar  through a corridor, which is has a modern bronze altar piece which is totally stunning. It represents humanity’s journey towards God, passing through childhood, adulthood and old age. In this chapel, the Stations of the Cross are well worth a look.   Information in French Information in English Information in Armenian  
Read more »

72 London - Saint Paul's Cathedral: Cool people commemorated, but bloody Empire heroes too.

-
Image
  Saint Paul’s Cathedral London. I seem to be visiting churches a lot faster than I am finding the time to write them up; I have a real backlog.  Anyway it was great to visit Saint Paul’s cathedral, one of the four cathedrals in London if I remember correctly (two for the protestants two for the catholics - but I am probably missing some orthodox cathedral). It was Christopher Wren who was the architect, and it was built as the first Anglican cathedral on the site - previously they had just recycled Catholic hand-me-downs. His advisors, and the committees, wanted him to be sure to make it not too Catholic. So, no stained glass, and no statues, monuments etc. However, in later centuries, once they got less scared of us Catholics, the statues and monuments came by the dozens - and indeed the 20th century high altar looks like it was looted from the Vatican itself. Lots of people got monuments, mainly heroes of the bloody British Empire, like Wellington. He has the biggest monument, with
Read more »

86 Paris, Montmartre, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Gospel is sport!

-
Image
 86 Paris, Montmartre, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart This tremendously famous church, which towers over Montmartre in Paris, is more directly political than most. It is often said to have been built as revenge against the Paris Commune, an insurrection during which the workers controlled Paris for a couple of months and showed the wonderful possibilities of workers’ power before being massacred by the authorities. This is not 100% true, in that the plans to build this church were decided before the Paris Commune. Nevertheless, the right wingers of the time certainly presented the church, and the worship of the sacrament in it as penance for the terrible sin of workers’ insurrection. As a result the church is cordially detested by many left wing activists in France (even more than the significant minority of left activists here who cordially detest any religious building). Shortly after the building of the church, it was the site of the National Vow, which again was a very conser
Read more »