Church of St. Joan of Arc
Ydes
Opening period
All year round daily.
Description
The Champagnac-Ydes coalfield was one of the main centers of coal mining in the Massif Central. The Church of Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc is part of this context of rapid demographic and social development linked to the coal industry.
Mining was a major economic driving force in the area, leading to the development of workers’ housing estates, industrial facilities and a large workforce centred around the miners.
In 1880, the Champagnac Coal Mining Company built a chapel in L’Hôpital-Ydes (now Ydes-Centre) for the miners working at the Champagnac mine and their families. Three years later, in 1883, the director of the Mining Company wrote to the Bishop of Saint-Flour, requesting that this “mining chapel” be recognised as a private place of worship rather than simply a temporary chapel, specifying that it was intended exclusively for mine employees. In February 1884, the parish priest of Ydes was granted permission to celebrate Sunday Mass in the chapel.
In 1919, L’Hôpital-Ydes, which had previously been part of the parish of Ydes-Bourg, became an independent parish. Two years later, the surplus from the parish church council’s budget, amounting to 246.50 francs, was transferred to a fund established to finance a new church, which had become necessary due to the steadily increasing number of parishioners.
The new Church of Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc was built between 1922 and 1923 and subsequently enlarged. Plans for the construction of the bell tower were submitted in 1941, and the bells were installed in 1943.
The stained-glass window depicting Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, shows the mine site and is dedicated to Edmond Pochat, founder and director of the Champagnac Mining Company. The memory of the miners is also commemorated by the Miners’ Cross, donated in 1958 by former mine workers. Made from metal and objects salvaged from the mine, this illuminated cross is fitted with electric lights that are switched on during miners’ funerals.
The church is built of rendered sandstone rubble masonry and topped with a slate roof, in keeping with the parish church architecture of the period. It has an elongated, single-nave layout, with an apse covered by a quarter-sphere vault, a barrel-vaulted nave and side chapels with groin vaults.
In 1880, the Champagnac Coal Mining Company built a chapel in L’Hôpital-Ydes (now Ydes-Centre) for the miners working at the Champagnac mine and their families. Three years later, in 1883, the director of the Mining Company wrote to the Bishop of Saint-Flour, requesting that this “mining chapel” be recognised as a private place of worship rather than simply a temporary chapel, specifying that it was intended exclusively for mine employees. In February 1884, the parish priest of Ydes was granted permission to celebrate Sunday Mass in the chapel.
In 1919, L’Hôpital-Ydes, which had previously been part of the parish of Ydes-Bourg, became an independent parish. Two years later, the surplus from the parish church council’s budget, amounting to 246.50 francs, was transferred to a fund established to finance a new church, which had become necessary due to the steadily increasing number of parishioners.
The new Church of Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc was built between 1922 and 1923 and subsequently enlarged. Plans for the construction of the bell tower were submitted in 1941, and the bells were installed in 1943.
The stained-glass window depicting Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, shows the mine site and is dedicated to Edmond Pochat, founder and director of the Champagnac Mining Company. The memory of the miners is also commemorated by the Miners’ Cross, donated in 1958 by former mine workers. Made from metal and objects salvaged from the mine, this illuminated cross is fitted with electric lights that are switched on during miners’ funerals.
The church is built of rendered sandstone rubble masonry and topped with a slate roof, in keeping with the parish church architecture of the period. It has an elongated, single-nave layout, with an apse covered by a quarter-sphere vault, a barrel-vaulted nave and side chapels with groin vaults.
Prices
Free access.
Location
Le bourg
15210 Ydes
15210 Ydes
Things to doin the area
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