Eglise St Saturnin à St Sornin

Descriptif

It is dedicated to Saint-Saturnin, evangelizer and 1st bishop of Toulouse. He died a martyr, dragged by a bull, for refusing to accept the obligation to sacrifice to pagan gods.



The 11th-century church, donated to the Abbaye aux Dames by Geoffroy Martel, Duke of Anjou, was rebuilt in the 12th century, with richly sculpted decoration. It was enlarged and adjoined by a priory of regional renown. All that remains is one bay of the nave, the transept and some very fine capitals with downward-spreading palmettes, wrestlers, rearing lions, or a man standing between birds.



During the Hundred Years' War, the bell tower collapsed, dragging down the choir, which was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 14th century. It comprises two rib-vaulted bays, ending in a flat chevet. It features numerous 17th-century frescoes on the walls and part of the vault. The scenes depict the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Virgin Mary and the Angel of the Annunciation, as well as cherubs.



In 1977, with the church in peril, the mayor at the time, Éric Chabrerie, decided to found the association "Les Amis de Saint-Sornin" with the aim of raising funds to finance the restoration of the sanctuary. The work was spread over ten years, from 1978 to 1988.



The frescoes were uncovered, medieval glazed terracotta tiles were found and reused in the paving of the choir, and the furnishings were entrusted to renowned contemporary artists:

- the gilded wooden altar by Dominique Kaeppelin, depicting the Holy Trinity

- stained-glass windows by master glass-maker Louis-René Petit, designed in orange tones in harmony with the frescoes.