{"id":10784,"date":"2013-04-14T00:08:34","date_gmt":"2013-04-14T05:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/?p=10784"},"modified":"2016-09-30T15:55:39","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T20:55:39","slug":"townspeople-mourn-as-gothic-saint-jacques-dabbeville-comes-tumbling-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/2013\/04\/townspeople-mourn-as-gothic-saint-jacques-dabbeville-comes-tumbling-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Townspeople Mourn as Gothic Saint-Jacques d’Abbeville Comes Tumbling Down"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>It\u2019s a sad week for French Catholics,<\/strong> as the church of Saint-Jacques falls prey to the wrecking ball.<\/p>\n

For 140 years the church of Saint-Jacques d\u2019Abbeville<\/strong>\u2014a great Gothic landmark in northwestern France, on the Somme river in the Picardy region\u2014has called people to prayer.\u00a0 Saint-Jacques was built in the Gothic style in 1868-76; and its tower bell, called \u201cJacqueline\u201d, is much older\u2014dating back to 1737.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>During the First World War,<\/strong> the church and its steeple survived many attacks, even while other local churches and properties sustained significant damage. \u00a0In the Battle of the Somme, more than 19,000 British soldiers and many Germans died near Abbeville when Allied Forces tried to break through German lines, but Saint-Jacques was spared.<\/p>\n

During World War II,<\/strong> the town again came under attack\u2014and again, the church of Saint-Jacques withstood the assault.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The passing years, though, have done what the bombs could not.<\/strong> Storms and high winds have gradually caused parts of the external structure to deteriorate. \u00a0Finally in 2005, a pinnacle and gargoyle from the tower broke off in a storm, piercing through the roof of the nave.<\/p>\n

A citizens\u2019 group formed that year<\/strong> to advocate for preservation of the historic church; and in June of that year, the mayor of Abbeville assured that the city had no plans to demolish Saint-Jacques.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Items from the church of Saint-Jacques<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But just three years later, in 2008, <\/strong>an architectural study estimated that it would cost \u20ac4.2 million to restore the building.\u00a0 In 2011, an inspection revealed continued expansion of a major crack in the infrastructure.\u00a0 At the same time, it was reported that many stones had fallen into the nave.<\/p>\n

In light of the new findings, the government abandoned hope of restoration<\/strong> and determined that the church must be demolished to assure public safety.\u00a0 On January 31, 2013, Abbeville mayor Nicolas Dumont ordered partial demolition.\u00a0 The following week, on February 7, the Abbeville city council voted to demolish the entire structure\u2014taking care to preserve the organ, the \u201cJacqueline\u201d bell, and the furniture.<\/p>\n

On March 18, 2013, the organ was carefully dismantled<\/strong> by a world-recognized Belgian organ builder.\u00a0 On March 25, \u201cJacqueline\u201d was carefully removed from the bell tower.\u00a0 On April 2, the west fa\u00e7ade of the church was demolished\u2014leaving no alternative but to complete removal of the structure.\u00a0 The transept and choir were next.\u00a0 The 69-foot spire posed a particular problem; but a 90-meter arm was imported by ship from Belgium, enabling harnessed workmen to reach the highest point on the steeple; and this weekend, the steeple and the already shortened spire were slated for removal.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to watch\u2013and it\u2019s hard to understand, since it\u2019s all in French; but here you can see the Gothic beauty tumbling down.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RkKzNWemmMQ<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a sad week for French Catholics, as the church of Saint-Jacques falls prey to the wrecking ball. For 140 years the church of Saint-Jacques d\u2019Abbeville\u2014a great Gothic landmark in northwestern France, on the Somme river in the Picardy region\u2014has called people to prayer.\u00a0 Saint-Jacques was built in the Gothic style in 1868-76; and its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":556,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nTownspeople Mourn as Gothic Saint-Jacques d'Abbeville Comes Tumbling Down<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s a sad week for French Catholics, as the church of Saint-Jacques falls prey to the wrecking ball. 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