Saint-Merri

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, Saint Mederic, who came to Paris on pilgrimage and later died there in the year 700. In 884 Mederic, in French also spelled Merry, was acclaimed patron saint of the Right Bank.[2]

Saint-Merri
Saint-Merri, north facade
Religion
AffiliationCatholic Church
ProvinceArchdiocese of Paris
RegionÎle-de-France
RiteRoman Rite
StatusActive
Location
Location76 Rue de la Verrerie, 4e
StateFrance
Geographic coordinates48°51′32″N 2°21′04″E
Architecture
TypeParish church
StyleFrench gothic
Groundbreaking1685 (1685)
Completed1690 (1690)
Official name: Eglise Saint-Merri
Designated1862
Reference no.PA00086259[1]
DenominationÉglise
Website
http://saintmerry.org/

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]

  • The nave of the church, looking east
  • The sanctuary viewed from the transept
  • Interior of Saint-Merri
  • The west front of the church

References
  1. Mérimée database 1993
  2. "Saint-Merri: histoire, Oeuvres d'art". 5 February 2005. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  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". Archived from the original on 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
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