ST. JAMES CHURCH

Since the Middle Ages, several churches have been ruined and rebuilt on this site. The present church saw its belfry-wall collapse in the 1920s during a Christmas mass without causing any casualties and was replaced by a wooden belfry. The original bells are still present and the Angelus can be heard ringing at midday. The church has many 18th century decorative elements and a beautiful front door dating from 1753. One can imagine that the modern panelled ceiling of the nave was originally a painted ceiling like the one in the church of Laymont. Two side chapels open to the north and south through a curved arcade before reaching the choir. The north chapel, illuminated by a stained glass window representing the Holy Family, has an altar from the Restoration period surmounted by a statue of the Virgin and Child. The south chapel, artistically more interesting, houses a wooden "tomb" altar painted in faux marble, surmounted by an altarpiece decorated with a painting representing the torture of Saint Agatha chained to a column in her prison. Sainte-Agathe was once celebrated with solemnity at Saint-Soulan on February 5. A stained glass window dated 1951 and representing Sainte-Thérèse de l'enfant Jésus illuminates this chapel. In addition, a statue of St. Therese of the Child Jesus can be found at the end of the nave near the baptismal font. Behind the white marble altar dating from 1897, the choir has a large painting of the Crucifixion, framed by two carved and gilded plaster religious trophies evoking the Eucharist. Finally, in the sacristy there is a beautiful chasublier cabinet.