Saint-Étienne de Montaudran Church en Haute-Garonne

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Étienne de Montaudran, located in the south-east suburbs of Toulouse, is an ancient parish whose first mention dates back to its consecration in 1199, in the middle of the Cathar heresy. A Latin inscription, raised in 1592 during a pastoral visit, attests to this date: "On May 9th the altar and the whole church, the year of the Lord 1199, were dedicated to Saint Stephen". At that time, Montaudran was already a separate parish, falling under the chapter of Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Toulouse. Until the Revolution, his cure was called "optimal", i.e. the parish priest's choice came from the oldest canons before becoming a collegiate.

The present building, of modest and village style, preserves traces of a major reconstruction or restoration in 1696, date engraved at the cross of warhead. Composed of a nave with three vaulted spans and a transept, the church houses a 17th century baroque altarpiece centered on a Crucifixion, surrounded by statues of Saint Paul and Saint Blaise. Above, a carved group represents the stoning of Saint Stephen, patron saint of the parish. During the Revolution, the church was vandalized, and his parish priest, Jean-Marie Benaben, was arrested in 1798 and deported to the island of Oleron, where he died a martyr. Christ on the cross, broken, was restored by parishioners after the conflict.

Three elements of the church have been classified as historical monuments since 1968: the 16th century cross Christ, a 17th century polychrome wood Pietà, and the altarpiece with its Crucifixion painting. A major renovation in 1999, for the 800 years of the church, revealed the brick vaults and ravaged the facades. Today, Saint-Étienne de Montaudran is part of the parish complex of Christ-Roi, known as "the parish of Sainte-Colline". A painting by Saint Germaine de Pibrac, exhibited in Rome during his beatification in 1854, still adorns the building, linked to a parishioner who provided his cause.

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