The Locmélar Parish close ('' Enclos paroissial'') is located at Locmélar in the arrondissement of Morlaix in

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

in north-western

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It is a listed

historical monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical ...

since 1934. Eglise Saint-Mélar

The calvary

The calvary dates to 1600 and was restored by the sculptor Donnart in 1925. It is 6 metres high and on the crosspiece beneath that depicting Christ on the cross there are statues of the Virgin Mary reversed with Mary Magdalene, and John the Evangelist reversed with Saint Peter, on either side of a "''Vierge de Pitié''" reversed with a "''Christ'' ''enseignant''". On the upper crosspiece, Christ on the cross is reversed with a statue of Jesus waiting to be charged with carrying the cross ("''Christ lié''") and on either side of the crucified Christ are a horseman and a robber hanging from a gibbet. File:Locmélar (29) Enclos paroissial Calvaire 01.JPG, The calvary at Locmélar File:Locmélar (29) Enclos paroissial Calvaire 05.JPG, Jesus awaits his crucifixion. File:Locmélar (29) Enclos paroissial Calvaire 03.JPG, Mary Magdalene clutches her pot of embalming oil File:Locmélar (29) Enclos paroissial Calvaire 02.JPG, Saint Peter with his key

The church

The ossuary was demolished in 1920. The church itself was built between the 16th and 17th century. The west door dates to 1577 and the south porch with its statue of John the Evangelist dates to 1664. The

choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

and

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...

s are furnished with 17th century altarpieces. The altarpiece by the altar depicts scenes from the

passion Passion, the Passion or the Passions may refer to: Emotion * Passion (emotion), a very strong feeling about a person or thing * Passions (philosophy), emotional states as used in philosophical discussions * Stoic passions, various forms of emotio ...

with a central tableau recalling the death of Mélar at the hands of Kerioltan and other events of his life. At the top of this altarpiece there is a statue of Christ surrounded by angels and surmounted by a depiction of the Holy Father. Niches hold statues of Saint Mélar and the Virgin Mary with child. The altarpiece dedicated to the Assumption is in the north transept and has at the centre a tableau depicting Christ's tomb surrounded by the twelve apostles with a statue of the Virgin Mary above it. She is surrounded by angels. In the south transept there is an altarpiece dedicated to Saint Hervé. The blind saint is being led by his guide Guic'haran and they are accompanied by a wolf. The tableau is surmounted by a statue of the Holy Father. The church has a baptismal font dating to 1612 with a baldachin on six columns. At the top there is a sculpture depicting Saint Michael fighting the dragon surrounded by statues depicting the six virtues.

The bell-tower

This is built in the Beaumanoir style and dates to 1589. The porch has twelve empty niches inside; outside are three niches with a statue of Christ placed in the central niche.

Statuary

The oldest statue in the church is a carving in wood of the Virgin Mary with child, which is thought to date from the 15th century. There is also a remarkable ''piéta'' thought to be Flemish.

Gallery

File:Locmelar esglesia 7166 resize.jpg, View inside church File:Locmélar inter.jpg, View above the main altar File:Locmélar porchesud.jpg, View of south porch File:Locmelar esglesia 7157 resize.jpg, Inside the south porch.

Carved panels depicting the Passion

The church contains a remarkable bas-relief carved panel in nine parts, each having a scene from the passion. In the three panels at the base are depictions of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the garden at Gethsemane and Jesus' arrest. In the three central panels we see Judas identifying Jesus with a kiss, Jesus carrying the cross and the attack on Malchus. In the upper panels we see Jesus brought before Caïphe, the crucifixion and the

Last Supper Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, ''The Last Supper (Leonardo), The Last Supper'' (1495-1498). Mural, tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic ...

. The panels are thought to date to 1577 and could have come from an old altarpiece.

Notes

Note 1. Breton legend recounts that Melor was only seven when his uncle, Riwal, murdered his father, St Miliau or Milio. Riwal also wanted Melor killed but was persuaded not to act by a council of bishops. Riwal decided instead to maim the boy, cutting off his right hand (later replaced by a silver prosthesis) and left foot (replaced with one of bronze). Melor was then sent away to Quimper Abbey to be educated. Here, his metal limbs began to work as if they were natural, and to grow along with him. By the time the prince was fourteen, Riwal decided that he must die and ordered his guardian, Cerialtan, to kill him. The boy was decapitated. Riwal is said to have touched the severed head and to have died three days after. The cult of St Melor in Brittany grew to considerable importance and there are a number of place names and dedications to him including Locmélar.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Locmelar Churches in Finistère Calvaries in Brittany Parish closes in Brittany