Lampaul-Guimiliau Parish close



The Lampaul-Guimiliau Parish close (Enclos paroissial) is located at Lampaul-Guimiliau in the arrondissement of Morlaix in Brittany in north-western France. It is a monumental churchyard belonging to the Église Notre-Dame in that town. This church was built in the late 16th century to replace an older one. The structures in the parish close date to the 16th and 17th century. It is a listed historical monument since 1910.

Calvary
The Lampaul-Guimiliau parish close boasts two calvaries. One, carved from kersanton stone, dates to the 16th century and is placed on top of the triumphal arch, the entrance to the enclosure, which dates to 1668 and comprises the central cross with gibbets on either side bearing the penitent thief and the impenitent thief. The central cross measures 4 metres in height. There is a statue of Mary Magdalene at the base of the cross and on the ornate crosspiece are back to back statues of Saint Peter and Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John with Saint Paul. The second calvary is 5.5 metres high and comprises a single shaft at the top of which is a Jesus is crucified with the two thieves on gibbets on either side. On the reverse of Jesus is a pièta, sadly much mutilated, although it was restored in 1993. Below Jesus are two small angels holding a chalice in which they have collected his Blood and under the bad thief there is a depiction of a demon ready to whisk his soul off to hell. Beneath the good thief, the depiction of an angel promises his soul a better fate.

Ossuary
This building dates to 1667 and is attributed to G. Kerlezroux. The motto "Memento mori" is written above the ossuary door, contrasting with the fine carving of the Tree of life on the door itself; the sculptor juxtaposed images of life and death. Inside the ossuary there is an altarpiece depicting the resurrection with a depiction of the "Risen Lord" with Saint Sebastian to the left and Saint Roch on the right. Also to the left of the altarpiece are statues of Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary and on the right a statue of Saint Pol and the dragon. The "Mise au Tombeau" or Burial of Jesus, shown in the photographs which appear later, was originally in the ossuary, but was subsequently moved to the church. Above the door there is also a sculpture of a man's head: he gingerly strokes his beard. Thus in its overall imagery, the ossuary deals not just with death but life and resurrection.

Porch
This large Gothic porch dates to 1533. At the very top are statues of the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist and a small angel, these above a niche containing a statue of Saint Pol (Paul Aurelian). Beneath this is a sculpture depicting Saint Michael slaying the dragon. In the porch interior there are statues in Kersanton stone depicting the twelve apostles. On the east side are Saints Peter, Thomas, Judas, John, James the Greater and James the Lesser. On the west side are Saints Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Mathias and Simon. The sculptures depicting Saint Pol and Saint Michael are attributed to Bastien Prigent and those of the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist and the angel are by Henry Prigent. The porch leads to a double doored entrance to the church. A statue of the Virgin Mary with child is placed over the doors. The porch also contains a stoup. The porch would have provided an area for merchants to hold discussions.

Bell tower
The bell tower was built in 1573 and was one of the highest in Finistère. However, it was hit by lightning in 1809, its spire being destroyed. The date 1609 is carved above the door and on the south wall the date 1622 has been inscribed. The chevet dates to 1827 and is decorated with lanterons.

Sacristy
This was added to the church in 1679. It served as a meeting place for local manufacturers and the parish's treasury. It has some remarkable carved paneling.

Rood screen
There is a 16th-century Rood screen ("Poutre de Gloire") with carvings depicting Christ on the cross with the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist in attendance and bas-reliefs covering various scenes from the passion carved on the main cross beam; Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, the flagellation, the crowning with thorns, the " Ecce homo", angels with chalices to collect Jesus' blood, Jesus carrying the cross, Jesus disrobed, the crucifixion and the descent from the cross. On the choir side of the screen are further bas-reliefs depicting the Annunciation and the twelve Sybils announcing the coming of a "saviour".

Pulpit
This dates to 1759-1760 and is decorated with images of the four Evangelists and the four "Doctors of the church"; Saints Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose and Gregory the Great. See Doctor of the Church.

Saint Laurent altarpiece
Includes a depiction of Lawrence of Rome in a niche. The saint holds a gridiron reminding us of the nature of his martyrdom.

John the Baptist altarpiece
This altarpiece is to the right of the choir area. In the choir area are two statues. One depicts Saint Peter with his keys and the other Saint Paul.

Saint Anne altarpiece
This was designed by G. Carquain in the 17th century and shows Saint Anne with the Virgin Mary in the centre. On the right of this is a depiction of Saint Joseph, and on the left Saint Joachim. Top left is Saint Barbara, top centre a bishop and top right Saint Marguerite. Along the bottom of the altarpiece, and from left to right, we have a depiction of the "rich", then Saint Yves followed by Saint Hervé and Saint Cadou.

Stoup
The church has a stoup decorated with a demon and a serpent and a depiction of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. This stoup is located inside the church.

Main altar
Near the main altar there is a lectern in the form of an eagle and 17th century stalls with carvings depicting monsters.

Altarpiece of the High Priest (Saint Mathurin)
See image.

Altarpiece of Saint Marguerite
The saint is threatened by a demonic creature but tramples on it. A symbol of the victory of good over evil.

Altarpiece of the Passion
This altarpiece dates to the 17th century. In the top right hand section there is a depiction of Saint Miliau, the patron saint of Guimiliau, and below a scene showing his martyrdom when he was beheaded by his brother Rivode. The left hand side has an image of the bishop of Léon and below that a depiction of the Virgin Mary's birth. The central section was supplied by an Antwerp workshop and in eight magnificent tableaux, the sculptors have created 80 images representing the story of the passion. At the very bottom the scenes presented are of the Last Supper and Jesus washing the disciples' feet and in the other sections, we see representations of Judas' kiss, the flagellation, Jesus carrying the cross, the descent from the cross, the entombment and the altar of the passion itself.

Descent from the Cross
This is a remarkable work of art dating to 1520 and carved from a single block of oak.

Processional banners
The church has preserved and has on display, a processional banner depicting Saint Pol and dating to 1634 and another, dating to 1667, depicting the Virgin Mary.

Burial of Jesus
This remarkable sculptural work dates to 1676 and recreates Jesus' followers preparing his body for burial after its removal from the cross. The followers include Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Gamaliel, the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Mary Salome (disciple). The sculptor was Antoine Chavagnac. Chavagnac was a sculptor to the French Navy in Brest.

Baptismal fonts
These are of granite and date to 1651. The octagonal dais is the work of G. Carquain and has carvings of Christ's baptism, the angel who guarded the robe and the 12 apostles. The Baldachin involves some exquisite carving depicting Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.