New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-09-08
CHURCH OF ST. QUENTIN.
One of Finest Gothic Structures in All
France Stripped OF It's Art
and Fired by Germans.

Washington, D. c., Sept. s.
while not of such worldwide fame
as the Cathedral of Rheims and al
though it lacks the spectacular his
toric associations of the great struc-
ture which saw the elimination Of
Joan of Arcs efforts the Collegiate\
Church of ST. Quentin, so recently
ravaged by the Germans, is one of
the finest Gothic structures in all
France" says today's war geography
bulletin issued by the National Geo
graphic Society concerning the burn
ing of the St. Quentin structure after
it had been stripped of its art treasA
ures by the invading vandals.
Situated to the east of the Hotel
de Vile, the Church of st. Quentin
suffers from the fact that it is Cor
was) closely surrounded by numerous
smaller and unattractive buildings.
making it impossible to gain a COM
prehensive view of the structure I'm
like the cathedral at Rheims, whovge
west facade was its chief glory, the
Church of st. Quentin has no west
facade, but terminates in this direc-
ton with a tower and a portal Of
Romanesque architecture. The stat
utes which formerly decorated the
portal have disappeared.
One of the odd features of this
great structure, which is $40 feet long
and $50 feet high, is it's double tran-
septs, rarely found in Gothic church,
eS.
The choir of the church closely
resem bled that of the Rheims cathe-
dral, and was quite ella borately dec
GRATED with polychromic paintings.
while in base relief on the beautiful
choir screen was depicted the story
Of the martyrdom of St. Quentin x
1T took four centuries to complete
the ST, Quentin cathedral and perhaps
four hours to destroy it. Work be-
gan in lila, and the choir was COM
pleted in 1857. The nave was fin
ished two hundred years later, and
the south portal in 1477.
"Strikingly beautiful features of the
building were the seven apsidal
chapels and the wonderful stained
glass windows in the principal tran
sept
"In the 18th century crypt (ro-
built in the 18th century, were TIE
tombs stone sarcophagi Of st. Quentin
and his fellow martyrs Victorious and
Gentianus Until Caius Quintinus
the third century and suffered death
at the hands of the, project Rectius
Varus the town was known. as Au-
gusta Vermanduorum
I'm destroying the church the Ger
mans in all liability also RACED
Lenglet's splendid statue Of Quentin
de La Tour, which stood Immediately
in front of the church. De La Tour
was the famous pastelist, a native son
of St. Quentin who received the title
of Painter to the King" in 1850 and
who retired to this city at the age of
80 to spend the remaining four years
Of his life in the distribution of his
fortune to the worthy charities of the
community. This La Tour was no re-
lation, however, to that matchless SOL
der La Tour D'Auvergne, whose SIN
gular bravery and modesty won from
Napoleon the title of First Gren-
adler of France" and whose mem DRY
is still kept alive in his regiment OF
the Guards, the 46th. by having his
name called at all parades when
non-commissioned officer answers.
Mort au champs d'honneur. This is
in compliance with a decree issued by
Napoleon more than century ago."