Montfarville is a charming village with a population of 800 at the extreme north- east of the Cotentin in the heart of the picturesque Val de Saire. The pride of the village is the particularly unusual church, much admired by visitors. The church as we see it today is dated from 1763, as shown by the inscription over the main door which reads: Messire C. Caillet, priest of the village,financed this church himself. Pray for him. It was built on the foundations of a gothic church of wich only the chapel des cloches ( the Bells) remains. The Chapel Bell Tower( XIII C) is architecturally impressive and was consecrated on the 12th February 1764. Following his visit to the Sixtine Chapel in Rome, Messire C. Caillet, the priest of Montfarville; commissioned Guillaume Fouace, a painter living in Réville, to decorate the vault of his church. The work was accomplished between 1879 and 1881. The best way of visiting the church is to start on the right side after entering by the main door.
The Introduction of Mary to the Temple «Deus, cordis mei et pars mea deus in aeternum God of my heart and my being for ever The emblem of St John the Evangelist is a high flying eagle as his Gospel begins by evoking the devine mystery.
The Annunciation «Ave gratia plena Ecce ancilla Domini» Hail Mary full of grace, Here is the servant of the Lord The painter,, Guillaume Fouace used his daughter, Béatrice as the modèle for the angel. Nicolas Cléret, the curate of Montfarville for 25 years, was martyred in 1792.
The visit Benedicta tu inter mulieres Blessed art thou among women Magnificat anima mea Dominum My soul glorifies Jesus- Christ The preaching of St John the Baptist in the desert, home of the lion.
La nativity Verbum factus est The word of god is Et pastores venerunt festinantes and the shepherds come to worship him A revealed in the body Of Jesus-Christ St Maur and St Benedict St Maur was born in Rome in 512, and at the age of 12, his father entrusted him to St Benedict He introduced the order of the Benedictines throughout France
The Flight into Egypt St Augustine and St Monica Due to the prayers of his mother, St Augustine converted to Christianity.
Jésus and the ecclesiastical hawyers St Elizabeth of Hungary The princess Elizabeth of Hungary is well known for her generous help to the poor.history tells that one day, when she was carrying bread and meat inside her coat to give to the poor, she met a Prince returning from the hunt. On opening her coat he discovered magnificent red and white roses.
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary St Isidore, patron saint of farmers. He is shown praying while the two mysterious figures behind him continue ploughing.
Jésus at Bethany Jesus is welcomed to Bethany by Martha and Mary Statue St Peter, first Bishop of Rome and Pope
The last supper shared by Jesus and his Disciples A reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci s famous painting; the original is in Milan The high altar with the altar piece representing Our Lady of the Assumption, patron of the church The high altar in beautifully carved painted wood, guilded in Louis XV style
Disciples of Emmaüs Statue Statue Statue The Apostle St Paul
The triumphant entrance into Jerusalem St Luigi of Gonzaga Patron of youthas he died aged 24. at the age of 12, he made his first communion officiated by the Archbishop of Milan, St Charles Borromée.
The handing over of the keys to St Peter St Cecilia, patron of the musicians It is said that during her life, she heard the song of angels. She was martyred in the third century for having declared her Christian faith.
The miraculous Draught of fishes The painter, Guillaume Fouace, based the portrait of St James pulling up the net on himself. St Paul s conversion on the Damascus road
The Healing of Paralytic «Domine si vis potes me mundare Lord, if you wish to, you can heal me tolle grabat tuum et ambula» pick up your bed and walk The painter used portraits of the mayor, the figure with white hair, and the curate-at his side and slightly balding in the painting. Our Lady of the Rosary with St Dominic and St Catherine of Sienna
The chapel of the Virgin Mary Our Lady of Consolation ( XII c) The polychromed stone statue Was buried not far from the shore, at Landemer to save it from destructive revolutionaries. It had been replaced in the chapel after troubles. Ste Anne St Marcouf A statue in polychromed White stone statue XVème siècle, stone(xvic) representing St anne teaching her daughter Mary to read. In 1784, lthe curate commissioned a sculpter from Morsalines, called guillaume, to sculpt the covers of the baptisumal fonts to represent St John the Baptist
The Pulpit A remarkable piece of work contributing to a particularly hamonious whole Curved and ornamental beam or perque In the local dialect The beam marking the separation between the nave and the choir, always bears a statue of Christ on the cross, victorious over death by his resurrection ( XVIIIc) The separation between the nave and the choir was previously made by a rood screen( in either wood, metal or stone).
The healing of the Man, blind from birth Jesus, fili David, miserere mei Vade lava in natatoria Siloe Jésus, Son of David, have pity of me Go and wash yourself in the Siloam pool The emblem of St Luke the evangelist, is an ox because he was the first to announce the birth of St John the Baptist, son of Zacharias who was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. Here, oxen were immolated in sacrifice.
Jésus and the samaritan Si scires donum Dei if you knew the gift of God Domine da mihi bubere Quench my thirst The painter used his wife as a model to the Samaritan portrait St john Odo A Norman Saint (XVIIc) who founded several seminaries in Normandy.
The Christening of Jesus Jésus baptizatus est Jésus is baptised Ecce Filius meus dilectus He is my dearly beloved son St Mathiew The evangelist is symbolised by an angel as he begins his gospel with the human side to Jésus geneology
The tree Wise then lead by the star The figure of St Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, towering over the St Peter s view in Rome. I believe in the Holy Roman Church. These words are inscribed on two banderoles held by angels. This painting evokes the pilgrimage of the Abbé Gouttière to Rome where the idea came to him to decorate the church of Montfarville
Sermon of the Mountain Ascension
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Isabelle Blanchemain Jean Lecoeur (who has lent us all the documentation) The photographers Felix Quentin René Delaroche Didier Guillon Elisabeth Dozière and for the translate : Mme Legoupil To learn more about Montfarville : http://www.decouvrir-montfarville.fr Octobre 2011 this folder belongs to the parish