It was built between 1869 and 1879 in grand Gothic style to replace the ruined 16th-century church. Father Ducros, the newly appointed Dean of Châteauneuf-sur-Cher, wrote to all the parishes asking the children for donations towards the building. The story goes that one little girl living in Semur-en-Brionnais wrote asking that the new church be named Our Lady of the Children and it is the only church in France to be called this.[1]
In 1861, Father Jacques-Marie Ducros, priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bourges, new parish priest, discovered a parish church in very poor condition. Eager to rebuild the building, the idea came to him to appeal to the generosity of children, throughout France. To his surprise, a young girl sends him her offering and her congratulations for having wanted the new shrine to be dedicated to Our Lady of the Children. The Blessed Virgin, invoked under this title, will take pleasure in filling childhood with the most abundant graces. The project was reoriented and donations flowed. The new church project would not have seen the light of day without the active collaboration of Brother Hariolf (Pierre Fayolle), director of the free school for boys of Châteauneuf-sur-Cher, of the congregation of de La Salle Brothers, passionate for architecture and construction. He supervised the construction works and brought this considerable site to completion.
The inside of the church is huge. There are tall elegant fluted pillars with pointed arches and a small carved frieze at the top of the pillars. Above is arcading with round pillars, round arches and windows above. The ceiling is vaulted with roof bosses. At the back of the south aisle is a stone font. Three pillars support a very ornate carved spire with pinnacles above the font. The ambulatory is separated from the choir by pillars and pointed arches. It has three apses each with an altar. The chancel has a crucifix on the walls and a painted statue of the Virgin surrounded by children.
Under the windows in the aisles are massive carved Stations of the Cross in elaborate frames, each explaining where they are. The rest of the walls are covered with small Ex-voto. The Stations of the Cross is manufactured by International Artistic Union of Vaucouleurs.
Jesus is condemned to death
Jesus is given his cross
Jesus falls the first time
Jesus meets His Mother
ChapelsEdit
The south apse has a fairly simple altar with Saint Anne and the young Mary. The central apse has a very ornate altar with carved figures on the base of adults bringing children to the Virgin. The retable has angels, spires and Biblical scenes including the raising of Jesus's daughter from the dead. Above the retable is a huge statue of the Virgin standing on a rock with young children lit up by light bulbs. The walls around the altar are covered with Merci plates. The altar in the north apse is again fairly plain with a statue of Saint Joseph and the young Jesus. The north chancel altar is carved stone with carvings of angels on the base and carved leaves around the top of the altar and along the shelf. There is a statue of Mary and Joseph on the host box.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ on stained glass windows
OrganEdit
There is a large organ in the choir. Its centenary organ dates back to 1889 and is the work of CAVAILLE-COLL, a renowned organ builder. Its sound system is admirable and concerts are organised every summer. It is now classified as a historical monument. The wooden choir stalls are fairly plain with misericords.
Stained glassEdit
Basilica of Our Lady of the Children is especially noted for its 19th-century stained glass manufactured by Lucien-Léopold Lobin.
Grand Housteau and apseEdit
The west front has a blind rose window on the arch over the central portals.
^E.-G. HERVET, Notre-Dame des Enfants, histoire de l'église de Châteauneuf-sur-Cher et de l'archiconfrérie de Notre-Dame des Enfants Paris, Pierre Téqui, 1896, pp. 35-36
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basilica of Notre-Dame des Enfants.
Pop Culture.gouv.fr: Basilique Notre-Dame-des-Enfantsl
Monumentum : Basilica of Notre-Dame des Enfants
Structurae structures Basilique Notre-Dame des Enfants
City of Châteauneuf-sur-Cher: Basilica of Notre-Dame des Enfants
September 28, 2023
basilica, notre, dame, enfants, french, basilique, notre, dame, enfants, minor, basilica, located, châteauneuf, cher, france, basilica, dedicated, lady, children, seat, archbishop, bourges, built, from, 1869, until, 1879, largely, gothic, architectural, style,. Basilica of Notre Dame des Enfants French Basilique Notre Dame des Enfants is a minor basilica located in Chateauneuf sur Cher France The basilica is dedicated to Our Lady of the Children and is the seat of the Archbishop of Bourges Built from 1869 until 1879 it is largely in the Neo Gothic architectural style and was constructed at about the same time as Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere Our Lady of the ChildrenNotre Dame des EnfantsFacade of Basilica of Our lady of the ChildrenReligionAffiliationRoman Catholic ChurchProvinceArchdiocese of BourgesRegionCentre Val de LoireRiteRomanEcclesiastical or organizational statusBasilicaStatusActiveLocationLocationChateauneuf sur Cher FranceGeographic coordinates46 51 31 N 2 19 21 E 46 85861 N 2 32250 E 46 85861 2 32250ArchitectureTypeChurchStyleNeo GothicGroundbreaking1869 1869 Completed1879 1879 Websitehttps nd enfants org Contents 1 History 2 Exterior 3 Interior 3 1 Nave and choir 3 2 Chapels 3 3 Chapel of the Sacred Heart 3 4 Organ 4 Stained glass 4 1 Grand Housteau and apse 4 2 Stained Glass Windows 19th century 4 3 Stained Glass Windows 19th century 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditIt was built between 1869 and 1879 in grand Gothic style to replace the ruined 16th century church Father Ducros the newly appointed Dean of Chateauneuf sur Cher wrote to all the parishes asking the children for donations towards the building The story goes that one little girl living in Semur en Brionnais wrote asking that the new church be named Our Lady of the Children and it is the only church in France to be called this 1 In 1861 Father Jacques Marie Ducros priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bourges new parish priest discovered a parish church in very poor condition Eager to rebuild the building the idea came to him to appeal to the generosity of children throughout France To his surprise a young girl sends him her offering and her congratulations for having wanted the new shrine to be dedicated to Our Lady of the Children The Blessed Virgin invoked under this title will take pleasure in filling childhood with the most abundant graces The project was reoriented and donations flowed The new church project would not have seen the light of day without the active collaboration of Brother Hariolf Pierre Fayolle director of the free school for boys of Chateauneuf sur Cher of the congregation of de La Salle Brothers passionate for architecture and construction He supervised the construction works and brought this considerable site to completion Exterior EditIs built on top of the hill and is an amazing structure of flying buttresses pinnacles spires carving statues gargoyles It is built from the local very pale tufa stone The nave is very tall with lower roofs on the chancel and ambulatory Entry is up steps to the west door which has statues everywhere bishops saints martyrs Vincent de Paul Jean Baptiste de La Salle Anthony of Padua James the Great Aloysius Gonzaga Germaine Cousin Saint Osmund Saint Lawrence Louis IX of France John Berchmans Therese d Avila Stanislas Kostka Saint Blaise nbsp The portal nbsp Aloysius Gonzaga Germaine Cousin Saint Osmund nbsp Saint Lawrence Louis IX of FranceInterior EditNave and choir Edit The inside of the church is huge There are tall elegant fluted pillars with pointed arches and a small carved frieze at the top of the pillars Above is arcading with round pillars round arches and windows above The ceiling is vaulted with roof bosses At the back of the south aisle is a stone font Three pillars support a very ornate carved spire with pinnacles above the font The ambulatory is separated from the choir by pillars and pointed arches It has three apses each with an altar The chancel has a crucifix on the walls and a painted statue of the Virgin surrounded by children nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Under the windows in the aisles are massive carved Stations of the Cross in elaborate frames each explaining where they are The rest of the walls are covered with small Ex voto The Stations of the Cross is manufactured by International Artistic Union of Vaucouleurs nbsp Jesus is condemned to death nbsp Jesus is given his cross nbsp Jesus falls the first time nbsp Jesus meets His MotherChapels Edit The south apse has a fairly simple altar with Saint Anne and the young Mary The central apse has a very ornate altar with carved figures on the base of adults bringing children to the Virgin The retable has angels spires and Biblical scenes including the raising of Jesus s daughter from the dead Above the retable is a huge statue of the Virgin standing on a rock with young children lit up by light bulbs The walls around the altar are covered with Merci plates The altar in the north apse is again fairly plain with a statue of Saint Joseph and the young Jesus The north chancel altar is carved stone with carvings of angels on the base and carved leaves around the top of the altar and along the shelf There is a statue of Mary and Joseph on the host box nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Chapel of the Sacred Heart Edit nbsp Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus nbsp Solange of Bourges nbsp Desiderius of Vienne nbsp Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ on stained glass windows nbsp Organ Edit There is a large organ in the choir Its centenary organ dates back to 1889 and is the work of CAVAILLE COLL a renowned organ builder Its sound system is admirable and concerts are organised every summer It is now classified as a historical monument The wooden choir stalls are fairly plain with misericords nbsp nbsp nbsp Stained glass EditBasilica of Our Lady of the Children is especially noted for its 19th century stained glass manufactured by Lucien Leopold Lobin Grand Housteau and apse Edit The west front has a blind rose window on the arch over the central portals nbsp Rose window on the west front nbsp nbsp Stained Glass Windows 19th century Edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Stained Glass Windows 19th century Edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp See also EditList of basilicas in FranceReferences Edit E G HERVET Notre Dame des Enfants histoire de l eglise de Chateauneuf sur Cher et de l archiconfrerie de Notre Dame des Enfants Paris Pierre Tequi 1896 pp 35 36External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basilica of Notre Dame des Enfants Pop Culture gouv fr Basilique Notre Dame des Enfantsl Monumentum Basilica of Notre Dame des Enfants Structurae structures Basilique Notre Dame des Enfants City of Chateauneuf sur Cher Basilica of Notre Dame des Enfants Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Basilica of Notre Dame des Enfants amp oldid 1137475666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
