Behold the neoclassical facade before you. Sainte-Marguerite stands as a testament to Parisian history. This Roman Catholic church is located in the 11th arrondissement. It stands at 36 Rue Saint-Bernard.
The story of Sainte-Marguerite begins in 1625. A chapel dedicated to Saint Margaret the Virgin was started. It was in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine. This was a rural and working-class neighborhood then. Construction was slow. It continued in stages until 1764.
During the French Revolution Sainte-Marguerite remained open. It was one of the rare churches allowed to do so. Twenty-six of the church’s thirty priests swore allegiance. They took an oath to the Constitutional government in 1790. The church then fell under government authority.
By 1795 Sainte-Marguerite was a “Temple of Liberty and Equality”. The building survived. However all the paintings and sculptures disappeared. Art was replaced after the Revolution. Other works were confiscated from destroyed churches.
The exterior of Sainte-Marguerite is neoclassical. The style reflects a turn away from the Baroque. There was also a need to economize. Doric order columns and pilasters adorn the facade. The triangular frontons feature simple decoration.
Step inside Sainte-Marguerite. Notice the rounded arches that support the ceiling’s cradle vaults. Light is minimal. It filters through oval oculi creating a somber mood.
One of Sainte-Marguerite’s unique features is the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory. Victor Louis designed it. It was built between 1760 and 1764. The chapel illustrates a doctrine from the Council of Trent. Souls in Purgatory wait to expiate their sins. They wait before ascending to heaven.
The chapel’s decor uses trompe-l’oeil techniques. This creates the illusion of three dimensions. Paolo Antonio Brunetti designed the painted architecture. Gabriel Briard painted the statues. He also created the painting over the altar. It represents “The Passage of the Souls in Purgatory to Heaven”. He displayed this painting at the Paris Salon of 1761.
Sainte-Marguerite holds significant artworks. “Descent from the Cross” by Charles Dorigny is one. It portrays Christ’s suffering. Mary Mary-Madeleine Nicodemus and apostles surround Christ. Joseph of Arimathea resembles King Henry IV of France.
The choir at the east end showcases another major artwork. It includes parts of Catherine Duchemin’s funeral monument. She was the wife of sculptor François Girardon. Eustache Mourrisson and Robert Le Lorrain created “Christ taken down from the Cross”. They were students of Girardon.
The stained glass windows mostly date from the 19th century. The originals were lost during the French Revolution. One window honors Pope Pius VII’s visit in 1805. This was after the church’s return to the Catholic Church. Another commemorates Monseigneur Affré’s death. He was killed during the 1848 Revolution fighting at the barricades.
It was widely believed that Louis XVII was buried in the cemetery adjacent to the Sainte-Marguerite. He was the son of Louis XVI. A plaque marked the wall. An investigation occurred in the late 19th century. A lead casket was opened. The remains belonged to a man of fifteen to twenty years old.
Sainte-Marguerite has been recognized for its historical importance. The French Government classified it as a national historic monument in 2017. Sainte-Marguerite stands as a symbol. It is a symbol of faith art and Parisian history.