Located in the Saint-Cybard district, in the center of Place Mulac, this church dates from the second half of the XNUMXth century. The work was entrusted to the architect Edouard Warin.
Located in the Saint-Cybard district, in the center of Place Mulac, this church dates from the second half of the XNUMXth century. The work was entrusted to the architect Edouard Warin.
We owe him the restoration of many small Charente churches that Paul Abadie junior had studied on his tours: Cellefrouin, Bassac, Champniers, Pérignac.
Appointed Architect of the city of Angoulême in 1868, he built several buildings there, including the covered market.
Architect of the Charente department in 1869, he built the hospitals of Cognac and Chalais there, as well as the colleges of Barbezieux.
The first stone was laid in 1866 and on this occasion, various silver coins of the year of the year, medals of PIE IX and a Latin inscription, engraved on a lead plate, were placed in the foundations.
Originally, the church was to be at the heart of a convent whose monks would lead the religious funeral processions from the nearby Saint-Cybard bridge to the Bardines cemetery. The bishop, Monsignor Cousseau, blessed the building on March 31, 1867, devoid of its transept arms and its side chapels initially planned. We can observe the waiting stones which remind us that this major project was not completed.
The 8 sculpted capitals that adorn its nave come from the Angoumoisine chapel of Beaulieu.
Edouard warin knew them since he assisted the architect Paul Abadie fils in 1861 during the reconstruction of the high school chapel, located on the site of the former Benedictine abbey church of Beaulieu.
From the outset, it bears the name of Saint-Cybard, whose cult, Bishop of Angoulême, Monsignor Cousseau wanted to rehabilitate in the second half of the XNUMXth century.
Born under the name of Eparchius in 493 in Trémolat in Périgord, he became a clerk in Périgueux.
In 537, he settled in Angoulême in a cave above the Charente.
He attracts many disciples attracted by his holiness and his many miracles: he saves a man condemned to be hanged by order of the Count of Angoulême, cured of lepers, restores sight to 3 blind people, possessed by the devil are delivered by his prayers . In 558, he ransomed 175 captives who had become slaves. He died in 581. The miracles produced during his lifetime continued on his tomb.
Its legend develops especially in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries and it becomes the object of an important cult. Several buildings are dedicated to him in the diocese of Angoulême and neighboring dioceses.
Two sculptures, visible on the facade of the church, represent him.
History, culture and heritage
From the outset, it bears the name of Saint-Cybard, whose cult, Bishop of Angoulême, Monsignor Cousseau wanted to rehabilitate in the second half of the 493th century. Born under the name of Eparchius in 537 in Trémolat in Périgord, he became a clerk in Périgueux. In 3, he settled in Angoulême in a cave above the Charente. He attracts many disciples attracted by his holiness and his many miracles: he saves a man condemned to be hanged by order of the Count of Angoulême, cured of lepers, restores sight to 558 blind people, possessed by the devil are delivered by his prayers . In 175, he ransomed 581 captives who had become slaves. He died in XNUMX. The miracles produced during his lifetime continued on his tomb. Its legend develops especially in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries and it becomes the object of an important cult. Several buildings are dedicated to him in the diocese of Angoulême and neighboring dioceses. Two sculptures, visible on the facade of the church, represent him.
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