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Since the Concordat of 1801 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Poitiers has been coextensive with the two civil Departments of Vienne and Deux Sèvres. Since 2002 Poitiers has been an Archdiocese (ecclesiastical province) which includes in addition the Bishoprics of Angoulême, La Rochelle and Saintes, Limoges and Tulle. The current Archbishop is Mgr Albert ROUET, appointed Bishop of Poitiers in 1994 in succession to Mgr Joseph ROZIER.
The Diocese is divided into 14 territoires each of which is further divided into secteurs containing one or more communautés locales. The communauté locale is the base unit of administration, bringing together the church members of one or several former paroisses and served by a team which includes the appointed priest, other ordained ministers, an elected délégué pastoral and a team of lay persons charged with missions of catechism, liturgy and charitable activities; these teams are completed by representatives of movements within the church as well as an elected member responsible for material affairs. The diocese is served by 259 ordained priests and 40 permanent deacons, with a further 86 non-ordained ministères reconnus appointed for a fixed time to carry out particular roles within church life. All members of the church community are encouraged to accept responsibility for the successful achievement of the church's mission. The Catholic community in Poitou has excellent relations with other Christian denominations and with the Jewish and Muslim communities. Services are conducted in French, although there are a small number of English-speaking clergy who are able to respond to the specific demands of a growing anglophone population.
A few words of history
Poitiers has been an important cultural and political city since Roman times, and has many famous sons and daughters.
As early as the fourth century, St Hilary served as Bishop of Poitiers (between 350 and 367/8). Hilary — one of the leading theological authorities of his epoch — is the first bishop of whom we have firm historical evidence. During his lifetime St Martin, later Bishop of Tours, set up the first monastic community in Gaul at Ligugé just south of the city of Poitiers.
Ligugé with its Benedictine Abbey and community remains an important spiritual centre for the whole Diocese. A few generations later Radegonde, a Frankish princess, founded the monastery of the Holy Cross; this community relocated to St Benoit outside the city in 1965. Radegonde's virtuous life attracted to the city the poet Venantius Fortunatus (author of several Latin hymns including Pange Lingua Gloriosi and Vexiila Regis, both still sung in churches). Venantius became Bishop of Poitiers (from 699 to 710).
The cathedral school of Poitiers, founded before the time of St Hilary, attracted scholars of international repute; during the 12th century Gilbert de la Porrée was its outstanding intellect. By papal Bull of 1431 the newly founded University of Poitiers was approved: in the 16th century, the university was ranked second only to Paris. Of the 41000 students who then attended its ten colleges, many were to become famous, including Joachim Du Bellay, Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac, François Rabelais, René Descartes, and Francis Bacon who later became Chancellor of England. The university came under strong influence from the Jesuit movement in the early 18th Century, and was closed at the time of the French Revolution, re-opening as a lay institution in 1896.
During the disturbances accompanying the Reform movement of the 16th century, many churches were pillaged by Huguenot mobs and the church furniture destroyed (much as happened in England during the Protestant Revolution). Little survived of the beautiful medieval moveable furnishings and statuary; on the other hand, excellent frescoes (notably those of Saint Savin), stone carving and stained glass are still to be found. After the French Revolution a strong movement of laicisation affected the church and under the Law of Separation of 1905 nearly all church buildings were transferred into state ownership (use of churches -"affectation" - being reserved solely to the Catholic Church). Only churches built since 1905, and the buildings pertaining to religious Orders, belong directly to the church.
Monuments: Poitiers
The cathedral church of St Pierre (12th-14th century) is situated in the lower part of the city of Poitiers, not far from the Baptistery which dates from late Roman times. It is not to be confused with the church of Notre Dame la Grande (11th century, with a fine 12th c. Romanesque façade), which stands on the main square at the centre of the city. Other well loved churches in the city include Ste Radegonde (13th c) near to the Cathedral, and St Hilaire-le Grand, a staging post on the pilgrimage route to St Jacques of Compostella, on high ground overlooking the railway station (11th c, fully restored after destruction of its tower during the Revolution). Each of these churches merits a visit, as does the former Palace of the Angevin Kings, the Palais de Justice, close to Notre Dame la Grande in the centre of Poitiers.
Some Saints of Poitou
Apart from Hilary and Radegonde, Poitou can boast of several exceptional figures in its long Christian history.
Maixent
Maixent, originally named Adjutor — assistant — was born at Agde in 448. After his education by St Severus, he settled in Poitou in the Sèvre valley and joined a community led by one Agapit, taking the name Maixent by which both he and the community would thereafter be known. Held in high esteem by the French king Clovis, he died in 515. Within the original diocese of Poitiers an abbey, three priories, one chapel and nine churches are dedicated to St Maixent. Feast: 26 June.
Junien
Junien, the Poitevin, is distinct from Junien, the Limousin saint for whom a town close to Limoges is named. Born at the beginning of the 6th c, either at Brioux, or near Champagné-le-Sec, this hermit lived an austere life during the reign of the Frankish king Clotaire 1(511-561). He attracted disciples and founded a community at Mairé-l’Evescault, in southern Deux-Sèvres. A friend of Saint Radegonde, Queen of France and foundress of the Abbaye Sainte-Croix de Poitiers, he died on the same day as she did, 13 August 587.
Leger
Best known for a horse race preserving his name, the history of St Leger is known only from a l0th- c life of questionable reliability. Raised in courtly circles, he joined his uncle Bishop Didier of Poitiers as Archdeacon before becoming Abbé of Saint-Maixent. Around 663 he was appointed Bishop of Autun; he governed his Diocese successfully before becoming involved in a political conflict with the Mayor of the Palace, Ebroïn, who wanted to unite Austrasia with Burgundy. Leger was arrested and endured terrible hardships with great courage. Around 677-680 he was beheaded in the forest of Artois. Shortly afterwards his fellow Bishops declared him a martyr, even though he had suffered for his political stance and not for his faith. His body was returned to Saint Maixent and placed in a church dedicated to St Leger near the Abbey.
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort
St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort was born at Montfort-sur-Meu in 1673. Early in life he developed a strong veneration for the Virgin and her place in Christian life. Within months of his ordination he joined the Third Order of Dominicans and obtained permission to preach the rosary and to form rosary confraternities. He subsequently formed an order of priests with similar devotion, the Company of Mary. Around this time he was appointed chaplain of the Hospital of Poitiers, where he met Blessed Marie Louise Trichet, who became one of his closest associates. Frustrated by the attitude of the local Bishops, he travelled to Rome and obtained an appointment as Apostolic Missionary; thereafter he preached extensively in Brittany and northwest France, writing (The Secret of the Rosary; and other works) and setting up free schools and fraternities. He died at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre in 1716, aged 43. Despite his emotional and exaggerated style he influenced many Popes and was canonised in 1947.
André-Hubert Foumet
Born in 1752 at Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé, his life was transformed by meeting a pauper on the staircase of the Presbytery of Maillé. During the Revolution he sought exile in Spain. Returning in 1797, he celebrated clandestine masses, notably at les Petits Marsillys where he met Elisabeth Bichier des Ages; with her he founded the Order of Filles de la Croix. He died at La Puye in 1834 and was canonised in 1933.
Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages
During the Revolution, while in hiding in Béthines, she received from Père Fournet (her senior by 20 years) an orientation of life centred on the service of God and the poor. In 1820 she installed her Community in the former Priory of La Puye, which became the mother house of the congregation, and where she died in 1838. Beatified in 1934, she was canonised in 1947.
Useful links
http://www.radio-accords-poitou.com/Espace-spirituel-anglophone
(Sunday morning radio broadcasts in English, available by internet podcast)
http://poitoucharentes.angloinfo.com/
(general information for English speaking residents and visitors to Poitou-Charentes)
http://www.church-in-france.com/services.html
(Anglican church services in the area)
http://www.opendoor-civray.com/
(support group for English speakers in southern Vienne/Deux Sèvres)
http://www.cancersupportfrance.info/Cancer_Support_France/index.html
(specialist help for English speakers affected by cancer)
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