St. Faith's Church, Sélestat
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Faith of Sélestat
is a major Romanesque architecture
landmark along the Route Romane d'Alsace
in the East of France
. The church having been built over a very short time span (only ten years, from 1170 to 1180), it appears strikingly homogenous in style and proportions, however some parts have been completed and others modified in a Romanesque Revival style
by the architect Charles Winckler (sometimes spelled Winkler) between 1889 and 1893. During that restoration campaign, a crypt
dating back to around 1085 was discovered and made accessible as well. Like many major buildings in Alsace
the church is made of pink Vosges mountains
sandstone
.
, also known as Hildegard von Schlettstadt (the old German
name of Sélestat), the wife of Friedrich von Büren, one of the ancestors of the House of Hohenstaufen, founded a first sanctuary dedicated to Saint Faith at this place around 1085, of which the crypt is today the sole remain. In 1094, the centre of the adoration of Saint Faith was moved to Conques
, where a grander sanctuary and pilgrimage site was being built. The church was rebuilt in the 12th century as the centre of a monastery
. In 1615, it became a Jesuit
college (see also Jesuit Church, Molsheim
), which it remained until 1767. The church, which was then menaced of destruction by the town council, was saved by the intervention of the Bishop of Strasbourg
, Louis Constantin de Rohan
The Jesuits have left their mark on the church's furniture, most notably the pulpit
, an important example of local Baroque art
. After the restoration of 1889–1893, the church had to be repaired again in the 1940s, having been damaged during the Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine in the last weeks of 1944.
Among the churches many features, the ornate capitals
crowning the columns inside and pillars of the windows outside belong to the finest. Saint Faith's two pipe organ
s (the tribune organ of 1892 and the choir organ of 1880) have been repaired several times since their installation, they do however still show beautifully crafted cases.
Sélestat
Sélestat is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.In 2006, Sélestat had a total population of 19,459. The Communauté de communes de Sélestat et environs had a total population of 35,397.-Geography:...
is a major Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
landmark along the Route Romane d'Alsace
Route Romane d'Alsace
The Route Romane d'Alsace is a touristic itinerary designed by the Association Voix et Route Romane to link both the well-known and the more secret examples of Romanesque architecture of Alsace, in an itinerary of 19 stages, linking churches, abbeys and fortresses, that range from the first...
in the East of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The church having been built over a very short time span (only ten years, from 1170 to 1180), it appears strikingly homogenous in style and proportions, however some parts have been completed and others modified in a Romanesque Revival style
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
by the architect Charles Winckler (sometimes spelled Winkler) between 1889 and 1893. During that restoration campaign, a crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
dating back to around 1085 was discovered and made accessible as well. Like many major buildings in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
the church is made of pink Vosges mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
.
History
Hildegard von EgisheimEguisheim
Eguisheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Eguisheim produces Alsace wine of high quality. The commune is largely German-speaking.-History:...
, also known as Hildegard von Schlettstadt (the old German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
name of Sélestat), the wife of Friedrich von Büren, one of the ancestors of the House of Hohenstaufen, founded a first sanctuary dedicated to Saint Faith at this place around 1085, of which the crypt is today the sole remain. In 1094, the centre of the adoration of Saint Faith was moved to Conques
Conques
Conques is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Geography:The village is located at the confluence of the Dourdou and Ouche rivers. It is built on a hillside and has classic narrow Medieval streets. As a result, large vehicles cannot enter the historic town centre but must...
, where a grander sanctuary and pilgrimage site was being built. The church was rebuilt in the 12th century as the centre of a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. In 1615, it became a Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
college (see also Jesuit Church, Molsheim
Jesuit Church, Molsheim
The former Jesuit Church , nowadays the parish church Sainte-Trinité-et-Saint-Georges is the main Roman Catholic sanctuary of Molsheim, France, and the principal 17th century church building in the Rhine Valley. The church was built between 1615 and 1617 by the German architect Christoph Wamser,...
), which it remained until 1767. The church, which was then menaced of destruction by the town council, was saved by the intervention of the Bishop of Strasbourg
Archbishopric of Strasbourg
- External links :* *...
, Louis Constantin de Rohan
Louis Constantin de Rohan (1697–1779)
Louis César Constantin de Rohan was a French prelate of the House of Rohan.- Life :A son of Charles III de Rohan, cousin of Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan, he was at first a naval officer before setting out on an ecclesiastical career...
The Jesuits have left their mark on the church's furniture, most notably the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
, an important example of local Baroque art
Baroque art
Baroque painting is the painting associated with the Baroque cultural movement. The movement is often identified with Absolutism, the Counter Reformation and Catholic Revival, but the existence of important Baroque art and architecture in non-absolutist and Protestant states throughout Western...
. After the restoration of 1889–1893, the church had to be repaired again in the 1940s, having been damaged during the Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine in the last weeks of 1944.
Among the churches many features, the ornate capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
crowning the columns inside and pillars of the windows outside belong to the finest. Saint Faith's two pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
s (the tribune organ of 1892 and the choir organ of 1880) have been repaired several times since their installation, they do however still show beautifully crafted cases.
Dimensions
Some of the building's dimensions are the following:- Outside length: 44.2 metres (145 ft)
- Height of crossing tower: 42 metres (137.8 ft)
- Width of façade: 16.8 metres (55.1 ft)
- Inside length: 38.9 metres (127.6 ft)
- Inside height of central nave: 11.1 metres (36.4 ft)
- Inside height of lateral naves: 5.65 metres (18.5 ft)
- Inside height of crossing: 10.9 metres (35.8 ft)
- Inside height of apse: 9.75 metres (32 ft)
- Width of central nave: 6.63 metres (21.8 ft)
- Width of lateral naves: 3.4 metres (11.2 ft)