123 Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Normandy : Our Lady of the Holy Parachutes

 I visit a lot of churches and see a lot of modern art in them, but the stained glass windows of Our Lady with parachutists landing in the background were definitely a first. But perhaps you remember the name of the village Sainte-Mère-Eglise, from the film with John Wayne. Yes, this was the village chosen for the parachute squads to drop in, a few hours before the Normandy landings (because it was in the right place). This is the church whose spire one of the paratroopers got his parachute hooked on. The Germans took him prisoner, and he survived. To this day there is a model of him hanging on to the spire by parachute (You can just see in one of the photos).

Apart from the stained glass, there is a fine rood cross (that is to say one high above the altar, in the air), and and admirably chunky lectern. When I was there there was a collection of children’s drawings displayed, on the theme of peace.

The church was started in the 12th century, and is actually called Our lady of the Assumption, not Our Lady of the Holy Parachutes.