Bellechassagne No. 1 / Belachassanha / Bella Chassana / Bella Chassanha / Bellachassenha / Bellechassanhe
Image copyright © Églises de Corrèze, 2017
No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing
Results: 4 records
view of church exterior - northwest view
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Églises de Corrèze, 2017
Image Source: digital photograph in Églises de Corrèze [http://eglises.de.correze.online.fr/eglise-b.php] [accessed 25 January 2017]
Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing
view of church interior - nave - looking east
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Inventaire général, ADAGP, 2008
Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph taken in 1983 by Frédéric Magnoux, in Mémoire [NUMI 83190440X] [www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/memoire/1393/ivr74_83190440x_p.jpg] [accessed 25 January 2017]
Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE
view of font in context
Scene Description: at the west end of the nave
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Inventaire général, ADAGP, 2008
Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph taken in 1984 by Frédéric Magnoux, in Mémoire [NUMI 83190442X] [www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/memoire/1393/ivr74_83190442x_p.jpg] [accessed 25 January 2017]
Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE
view of object
Scene Description: was this used simply as an independent holy-water reservoir or a lining or insert inside the font?
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Inventaire général, ADAGP, 2008
Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph taken in 1983 by Frédéric Magnoux, in Mémoire [NUMI 83190510X] [www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/memoire/1393/ivr74_83190510x_p.jpg] [accessed 25 January 2017]
Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE
INFORMATION
FontID: 20878BEL
Church/Chapel: Eglise paroissiale [ancien priorale] Saint-Georges, de l'Exaltation-de-la-Sainte-Croix
Church Patron Saints: St. George & Holy Cross
Church Location: 19290 Bellechassagne, France
Country Name: France
Location: Corrèze, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Directions to Site: Located off the D80, just SE of Somac, NNW of Ussel
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocèse de Tulle [ancien diocèse de Limoges]
Historical Region: Plateau de Millevaches, Limousin
Font Location in Church: [cf. FontNotes]
Date: ca. 1272?
Century and Period: 13th century [basin only] [composite font], Medieval [composite]
Church Notes: Léopold Niepce's Le Grand-prieuré d'Auvergne: ordre des hospitaliers de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem (Lyon, 1883) gives Bellessagne as a commanderie of the Grand-prieuré d'Auvergne, Order of Malta, existing still well into the 18th century, and with priory ["Seconde chambre Prieurale"] of the Order in it. A "Communication de M. Vayssière, archiviste départemental" to the 2 January 1884 session of the Société des lettres, sciences et arts de la Corrèze, published in the 1884 issue of the society's Bulletin (p. 69ff) informs that the church and the castle were demolished in 1588 ["le tout ruyné et demolly jusques aux fondementz"] by order of the king Henri III. This same source notes that the priest at nearby Sornac supplied the priory of Bellechassagne with baptismal water and the holy oils ["Le curé de Sornac, en vertu d'un contrat du 31 janvier 1401 [...] était tenu de fournir l'église de Bellechassagne d'eau baptismale et de saint chrême"], an indication that baptisms were carried out at the priory church of Bellechassagne. The importance of the demolished church here is noted in this same source by a visit to the site in 1617: "Ils constatèrent que l'église mesurait [...] quatre-vingt-dix pieds sur vingt-deux. Sa voûte avait été complètement détruite et on l'avait pourvue provisoirement d'une méchante toiture de chaume, laissant filtrer la pluie de tous les côtés, ce qui lui donnait l'aspect d'une vaste grange. L'illusion pouvait être complète, car les fenêtres, privées de leurs vitres, avaient été fermées avec des fagots de paille. Les visiteurs ordonnèrent quelques réparations, et pour donner satisfaction aux habitants, prescrivirent 'de baisser les murailhes de ladite église parrochiale le plus bas que faire se pourra, pour empescher qu'il ne s'y puisse faire de forteresse, comme quelques voisins s'y preparoient sy la guerre heust continué... et pareillement de combler les fossés estant autour d'icelle et du chasteau." The web site Les Templiers et les Croisades [www.templiers.net/departements/index.php?page=19] [accessed 25 January 2017] notes: "Nous savons qu'à Bellechassagne le chapelain était en même temps curé de la localité ; peut-être aurions-nous dû ajouter, ce qui n'est d'ailleurs qu'une supposition, que la chapelle de la commanderie avait dû servir d'église aux habitants, puisqu'il est parlé de fonts baptismaux dans la chapelle." This same source notes that the commanderie here is documented by 1272 and was one of the most notable in the Limousin.
Églises de Corrèze [http://eglises.de.correze.online.fr/eglise-b.php] [accessed 25 January 2017] notes an ancient font made of granite here: "Siège d’une Commanderie de Templiers qui dépendait du grand-prieuré d’Auvergne, l’église passa ensuite aux chevaliers de Malte. De cette époque subsistent quelques vestiges, chapiteaux, croix et cuve taillés dans le granit." The present church here is listed in Mérimée [ref.: IA00030074], where it is noted that the only thing that remains from the 13th-century church is the west portal ["Eglise saint Georges et Sainte-Croix du 13e siècle dont il ne subsiste que le portail occidental"]. Palissy [ref.: IM19000632], however, has an entry for a large font at the west end of the nave, north side, in this church; unfortunately the Palissy entry addresses the grouping of the font, a wooden "niche-armoire murale" and a granite "cuve d'écoulement" in the same text, and the suggested 18th-century dating refers only to "les boiseries et la partie écoulement", while the font itself is vaguely referred as "le grande cuve plus ancienne". Palissy [ref.: IM19000158] lists one other related item, a "réserve à eau baptismale" made of copper; it is of regular cylindrical shape with a rim and cover, looking very much like a cooking pot, but the cover is decorated with a large Maltese cross; the Palissy entry (ibid.) gives an 18th-century dating for it [NB: these "réserves" can be used independently of a font, but are found inside the stone fonts as liners or inserts].
COORDINATES
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material:
stone, granite
Font Shape: round
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round
Drainage Notes: [cf. FontNotes re insert]
Diameter (includes rim): 96 cm*
Basin Total Height: 52 cm*
Notes on Measurements: * Palissy [ref.: IM19000632]