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L'église Saint-Gayrand
Échelle au ciel
À partir du 24 août jusqu’au premier septembre 2019 je participerai au projet d’art de Grateloup-Saint-Gayrand, dans l’arrondissement de Marmande, département du Lot-et-Garonne en France.
Huit artistes vont développer leur création dédiée à l’église de Saint-Gayrand. L’église se trouve au sommet d’une colline et a été récemment sauvée de ruine. Elle offre une source riche en histoire, architecture et religion aux artistes.
Les œuvres d’art sont inspirées à l’histoire de l’église et de l’endroit. En faisant défiler au fond vous trouvez une description de l’histoire en anglais.
En bref, l’église a vu beaucoup de victimes. Pendant La guerre de 100 Ans (1337-1453), pendant la réformation du Calvinisme (1562-1598) et aux incinérations de sorcières aux bûches, dont la dernière eut lieu en 1662. À l’occasion de la révolution en 1789 la plupart des bâtiments religieux furent pillés ou vendus à l’état, beaucoup de prêtres et pasteurs furent massacrés.
Récemment un toit a été mis sur le clocher et l’escalier. Le reste de l’église consiste en murs.
Je construirai une échelle, pour faciliter les âmes de tous les morts que l’église a vus, de s’échapper au ciel.
Les échelons ont beaucoup de couleurs, de sorte que la montée soit attirante.
Les matériaux principaux utilisés sont le bambou et le velours. L'échelle monte au-dessus des murs de l'église et a une hauteur d'à peu près 11 mètres. Elle est tenue en place par moyen de 4 liens qui dépassent les murs, et qui seront aggravés chacun d'une pierre. Le haut de l’échelle est fouetté par le vent, parce qu’il n’est pas toujours facile d’atteindre le ciel.
Les habitants de Grateloup-Saint-Gayrand collaborent à construire l’échelle et à fournir des tissus, donnant ainsi une contribution à la montée des âmes.
C'est un cadeau mutuel entre l'artiste et les habitants du village.
Vue du sud, avec chapelle de droite
South view, with right chapel
Vue du sud-ouest
South-west view
Intérieur de l'église vers l'est, avec les ouvertures aux chapelles
Inside the church east view, with openings to the chapels
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La presse locale écrit sur le projet:
Le petit Journal de Resurrexit
« L’Echelle au Ciel » de Marian Hulshof
Les deux bambous de 11 et 12 mètres de haut et 80 mm de diamètre à la base ont été coupés. Ils vont servir comme les deux montants de l’échelle.
Bernard et François les ont transportés le long du mur de la Salle des Fêtes de Saint Gayrand, et mis sous tension pour les redresser. Philippe M. et François ont soudé les demi-tuyaux donnés par Bernard et fendus par François. La qualité de la soudure est essentielle pour que les courbes des bambous soient atténuées. Jeudi, François les a montés. Le résultat est somptueux ! Pourvu que ça plaise à Marian… ! Phase suivante … coudre velours noir autour des montants. Ceux qui veulent aider peuvent contacter François pour attaquer à partir de vendredi après-midi.
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Dessin de l'échelle, le nombre d'échelons dépend du poids
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Stairway to heaven
From 24 August - 1 September 2019 I will participate to the art project in Grateloup - Saint- Gayrand, arrondissement of Marmande, department of Lot et Garonne in France.
Eight artists will develop their site-specific creation dedicated to the church of Saint Gayrand. This building on a hill top, being currently restored from ruin, offers a very rich historical, architectural, and religious context for site-specific artists’ visions.
The art works are based on the history of the church and the area. In short, the church has seen many victims. During the 100 Years War (1337-1453), during the reformation of Calvinism (1562 - 1598) and at witch trials (the last one took place in 1662). During the revolution in 1789 most religious buildings were pillaged or sold to the state, many priests and pastors were massacred.
Recently there was put a roof on the bell tower and staircase. The rest of the church consists of walls.
I will make a ladder to heaven, to facilitate the souls of all the death the church has seen, to escape to heaven. The rungs are multicoloured, in order to make a pleasant mount.
The main used materials are bamboo and velvet. The ladder rises above the walls, in the middle of the chapel. The top of the ladder is whipped by the wind, because it’s not always easy to reach heaven.
The inhabitants will help to construct the ladder and to donate pieces of textile, so they contribute to the mount of the souls. It's a mutual present between the artist and the inhabitants.
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History of the area
The origins of the first main conflict between France and England happened here. The Duchess Alienor of Poitou, first married to the King of France who gave her Aquitaine, subsequently married the heir of a powerful French family, Henri II Plantagenet who eventually conquered England. This was the origin of the English kings’ claim on the whole western part of France and of the 100 Years War. This war (1337-1453) will see the region pass several times from England, to France, to the County of Toulouse and back… until Joan of Arc helped finish it…
In the XVIth century, many locals opted for the religious reformation (Protestantism), following the preaches of Calvin, much more radical than Luther’s. A major conflict opposed the Kings and majority of the Catholic population to the southern Protestant Lords and their population. The most horrible crimes were committed both sides. The open wars lasted from 1562 to 1598. On that date, the new king, Henri de Bourbon, ex-protestant leader, having returned to the Catholic faith, succeeded into reaching a treaty, the Edict of Nantes, that gave an acceptable level of freedom to Protestants. In 1680, the parish of St Gayrand counted only 5 Catholics for 350 Protestants.
By breaking the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Louis XIV imposed the Protestants, called the Huguenots, to come back to Catholicism or emigrate. Many moved to Prussia, or the Netherlands and from there to the US, and South Africa, where they brought their local vines and wine technology. The Protestants who converted by force back to Catholicism after 1685, were described by the bishop of Agen as « tepid believers ».
Independently from the religious context, the neighbouring village of Grateloup (today united to St Gayrand) saw in 1662 one of the very last witch trials and executions in France.
In 1787, 2 years before the French Revolution started, Louis XVI had promulgated full freedom of cult for Protestants and Jews, but the Revolution was profoundly anti clerical and finally anti religious. Most religious buildings were pillaged, or sold as belonging to the State. The priests and protestant pastors alike were forced to pledge allegiance to the Republic or were imprisoned. Many were just massacred. After a relatively quiet XIXth century, in 1904, the Republic nationalised all the belongings of the church. The survival of the buildings would then depend on the goodwill of municipalities.
The two villages of Saint Gayrand and Grateloup have been united as Grateloup-Saint Gayrand in 2002.
History of the church
The initial church was built (Romanesque style) in the XIIth century, then pillaged and ruined by English troops during the 100 years War (XIII-XIV centuries). It was rebuilt at the end of the XVth century in Gothic style, still visible in the stained glasses structures that remain.
Pillaged by Protestant troops, the bells were taken away.
The building was restored in the XVIIIth century. A bell was cast and baptised Dominique in 1750 (This bell did last ring on the 8th of May 1945 to celebrate the end of WWII. It was sold in 1964 to a community of Polish miners for their chapel in the north of France. And it disappeared).
The anti-religious French Revolution, and massacre of the local priest, added to the miseries of the building. In 1895, due to insecurity of the structures, cults were interrupted.
In 1923, the roof over the nave fell off.
Masses were still occasionally held in one of the lateral chapels until the 60’s.
Since 1988 a group of inhabitants has created an association to save and restore the building. It has joined forces with government support to stabilize the top of the walls and put a roof on the bell tower and its staircase.
The association is trying to gather resources to continue the restoration.
A child was baptised there by the Priest of Tonneins in 2016.
The nave and chapels are open to visitors.
Christian elements
Saint Patron of the church: Saint John the Baptist
Patron name: Saint Gayrand, assimilated to Saint Guérin, coming from Guarinus or Warren. This saint was born 1159 in Palestrina (Latium, Italy). He is known for the austerity of his life and his love and help to the poor.
The church remains consecrated. This means masses can still be canonically held here.
Architectural elements
The arches bearing the vault have disappeared over the nave and the lateral chapels. Grass grows on the ground.
The bell tower and its staircase are protected from rain by new roofing, as are the tops of the walls.
The altar has almost disappeared. Two steps are still visible leading from the nave to the choir, in which a door opens into a tiny sacristy.
No stain glass remains. Most stain glass’ structures have been plugged with masonry to avoid crumbling. Some remain open with traces of original XVth century stone structures.
Some recesses/tabernacles exist in the walls, especially in the lateral chapels.
For more information, look at the website of Artists in Nature International Organization, AiNIN.
Localisation de l'église Saint Gayrand dans l'arrondissement de Marmande
Localisation détaillée de l'église Saint Gayrand, près de Tonneins
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