Saint-Merri

Saint-Merri

Saint-Merri, north facade
Basic information
Location 76 Rue de la Verrerie, 4e
Geographic coordinates 48°51′32″N 2°21′04″E / 48.85889°N 2.35111°E / 48.85889; 2.35111Coordinates: 48°51′32″N 2°21′04″E / 48.85889°N 2.35111°E / 48.85889; 2.35111
Affiliation Catholic Church
Rite Roman Rite
State France
Province Archdiocese of Paris
Region Île-de-France
Status Active
Heritage designation 1983
Website saintmerri.org//
Architectural description
Architectural type Parish church
Architectural style French gothic
Groundbreaking 1685 (1685)
Completed 1690 (1690)
Official name: Eglise Saint-Merri
Designated 1862
Reference no. PA00086259[1]
Denomination Église

The Church of Saint-Merri (French: Église Saint-Merri) is a parish church in Paris, located along the busy street Rue Saint Martin, on the Rive Droite (Right Bank).[2] It is dedicated to the 8th-century abbot of Autun Abbey, Medericus, who came to Paris on pilgrimage and later died there in the year 700. In 884 Medericus, in French also spelled Merry, was acclaimed patron saint of the Right Bank.[2]

History

The present church was built between 1500 and 1550. The style is 16th-century Gothic, in the typical French style called flamboyant. The nave windows are work of the early 16th century, and the pulpit is by P. A. Slodtz and was made in 1753.[2]

The organ was reconstructed in 1781 by Cliquot, a famous organ builder. It was played by Camille Saint-Saëns, who was organist of the church from 1853 to 1857.[3] The bell tower contains the oldest bell in Paris, cast in 1331, which survived the French Revolution.[2] In 1832, the church was an arena of ardent barricade fighting during a republican uprising against the July Monarchy.[2]

The church continues as a place of worship today, and is home to the Halles-Beaubourg Pastoral Centre,[2] being also the home to the Académie vocale de Paris, which performs concerts in the church every Saturday throughout the year.[4]

References

  1. Mérimée database 1993
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Histoire", saintmerri.org (in French)]
  3. Ratner, Sabina Teller, et al. "Saint-Saëns, Camille", Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press, retrieved 7 February 2015 (subscription required).
  4. Académie Vocale de Paris
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