The door opens to a rich collection of wall paintings, carvings, vaulted ceiling, 16C stained glass windows, statues, and a Glory Beam – this is a place for lingering, preferably alone.
King and then Saint, Salomon stands beside the High Altar with a sword stuck in his side looking very regal – but the message is clear!
The vaulted ceiling is simple, but the carvings on the string beams and crossing beams emanating from dragon’s heads are wonderfully descriptive of everyday life in the 16C.
The Baptistry of 1635 was made by Jean le Moing and is inscribed “Yvo Nicolas and C. Maubian Fabriques have made this tabernacle by Mr. Re Jean Moing in lan 1635” (in translation).
The wall paintings are not very clear anymore but there is a good discussion in this blogsite of what they might be depicting.
But above all it is the sadness and simplicity of the so-called Glory Beam which holds my attention in this building.
For further information
This excellent blogsite
restlessjo
I’ve never come across the expression Glory Beam before, Candy, but this church is incredibly beautiful. 🙂 🙂 How did the photography exhibition go/ is going still?
Candy Blackham
The French is ‘Poutre de Gloire’ and this appears in English translations as ‘Glory Beam’ – a curious term, don’t you think. The photography exhibition in Brittany is not decided and I am going to discuss further in September, and this is a longer term project. The next photography exhibition in Suffolk is planned for 12 and 13 April 2019, and I think I am going to compare aspects of churches in Suffolk and Brittany – not quite decided but need to get on with it!
restlessjo
Ok 😃 Thanks for the information x
Candy Blackham
I could do a series of posts on the stringbeams alone! I love the carving in the heading of the post – St Anne, and angel, and a very dismayed Virgin Mary!
Sue Vincent
The carvings are wonderful.