Saint-Pair-sur-Mer / Pair-Libre / Sanctus Paternus / Scissi / Scissy / Seciacum / Sesciacum / Sessiac / St Pair sur Mer

Image copyright © Xfigpower, 2013
CC-BY-SA-3.0
Results: 8 records
animal - bird - dove - 2
animal - bird - dove - facing each other - 2
design element - architectural - arch - 3 - with a bird, a cross and a bird inside the arches respectively
symbol - cross - in an arch
view of basin - interior - detail
view of church exterior - southeast view
view of church interior - nave - looking east
view of font and cover in context

Scene Description: the wooden cover is probably 19thC
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Xfigpower, 2013
Image Source: digital photograph taken 21 April 2013 by Xfigpower [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Église_Saint-Pair_de_Saint-Pair-sur-Mer_-_Choeur.JPG?uselang=fr] [accessed 9 February 2019]
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-3.0
INFORMATION
FontID: 03250PAI
Church/Chapel: Eglise paroissiale St-Pair de St-Pair-sur-Mer
Church Patron Saints: St. Paternus of Avranches [aka Padarn, Padarnus / Pair]
Church Location: 50380 Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, France
Country Name: France
Location: Manche, Normandie
Directions to Site: Saint-Pair-sur-Mer is located off the D911, 4 km SSE of Granville, on the coast, half-way between Avranches in the S and Coutances in the N. There are many interesting fonts listed in this area.
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocèse de Coutances et Avranches
Historical Region: Avranches
Font Location in Church: Inside the church, in the nave, in the area which separates the old and new churches
Century and Period: 12th century, Romanesque
Church Notes: Vivier-Seguin explain that this church was built on "un oratoire mérovingien" in which were found the remains of three early saints: St. Pair, St. Scubilion and St. Gaud; the early monastery, chapel or church was probably destroyed by the Normans. Church listed in Mérimée [ref.: PA00110594]
Font Notes: Click to view font notes
Large rectangular font has several crosses on its sides as well as birds which are identified as doves by Le Héricher and Vivier-Seguin. The inside of the basin is square and has a step half-way down, but the very bottom is round with a large round drain hole. The basin is cut in at its bottom and rests on four small blocks which appear of much later date; it may well have rested directly on the ground originally. Vivier-Seguin explain that if the font is the original of the Merovingian earlier site, it would have to be dated to the 7th-8th century. V-S also propose that the font was the product of a local workshop (Vivier, 1941). On-site notes: our own estimation was that the font matches the general work, medium and structure of the bellfry capitals and should probably be dated to the 12th century.
COORDINATES
Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal:
48.81583,
-1.57083
Church Latitude & Longitude DMS:
48° 48′ 57″ N,
1° 34′ 15″ W
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material:
stone, granite
Number of Pieces: one
Font Shape: rectangular (mounted)
Basin Interior Shape: rectangular
Basin Exterior Shape: rectangular
Drainage Notes: The large drain hole (12 cm in diameter) may have been re-carved later - unlined
Rim Thickness: 8-9 cm*
Diameter (inside rim): 65 x 71 cm*
Basin Depth: 35 cm*
Basin Total Height: 60 cm*
Font Height (less Plinth): 78 cm*
Square Base Dimensions: 20 x 20 cm* (each of four)
Trapezoidal Basin: 80 x 90 cm*
Notes on Measurements: * BSI on-site [NB: "inside diameter" represents the dimension of the rectagular inner basin]
LID INFORMATION
Date: 19th century?
Material:
wood,
Notes: A flat square wooden lid, probably 19th-century
REFERENCES
Vivier, Em., Les Anciens fonts baptismaux du Département de la Manche, Avranches: Presses de "L'Opinion de la Manche", 1941