Saint-Gilles Church

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Presentation

As early as the 10th century, the first medieval church was built in Pornic. A second was built at the end of the 14th century, dedicated to Saint Gilles. The present church dates from the second half of the 19th century.

 A church through the centuries

It appears that the first medieval church was built in the upper town of Pornic as early as the 10th century, in 978, by the Breton prince Glévihen.

A second church was built at the end of the 14th century and dedicated to Saint Gilles.
It remained under the ecclesiastical authority of the Abbey of Sainte-Marie-de-Pornic until the mid-16th century. It was precisely in 1554 that the church in Pornic became a parish church.

This church was demolished during the second half of the 19th century to make way for a larger building on the same site.
The present-day Church of Saint-Gilles dates from a period when many churches in our region were rebuilt. The decision to rebuild the dilapidated medieval church was taken in 1852.
Although work began in 1864, it was not fully completed until 1875 with the construction of the bell tower.


The Church of Saint-Gilles in medieval times, the era of the Knights Templar

The Knights Templar’s devotion to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, one of the major pilgrimage sites of medieval Christendom, would likely explain this choice of patron saint, as the Knights Templar owned property in Pornic.
Fragments of tombstones adorned with the cross of this hospitaller and military order are said to have been found in the old church.

Saint Gilles (Aegidius) was born in Athens around the middle of the 7th century. Renowned for his miracles, yet shunning fame, he left his homeland and settled in Provence, where he lived as a hermit in a forest south of Nîmes, with a doe as his only companion. According to legend, the doe, pursued by hunters, sought refuge at his feet, whilst an arrow, shot by a Visigoth king, missed the animal and wounded the saint in the hand. To make amends, the king agreed to build an abbey, of which Gilles became the first abbot, thus giving rise to the town of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard.

Saint Gilles, whose feast day is 1 September, the day of his death, is invoked as the patron saint of seafarers, farmers and shepherds.
He is often depicted with a doe, upon whose head his wounded hand rests.
Be sure to see the two depictions of the patron saint: one outside the church, carved above the entrance porch, and the other inside, on a stained-glass window in the chancel.

The present church was completed in 1871, but it was not until 1875 that the sound of the three new bells could be heard.

 To view the Mass timetable for the parish of Notre-Dame de la Côte de Jade, click here.


 

Information

• PERIOD OF SITE OR HISTORIC MONUMENT :
  • 19th century
• RELIGIOUS HERITAGE :
  • Church
• PETS :
  • Pets allowed
• Geographical zone :
  • Pornic

Map