Saint Divy Parish close

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The Saint-Divy Parish Close is in Saint-Divy, Brittany, France, near Brest. The parish church, Église de Saint-Divy, was built in two stages, with the first part dating from 1531. It has been a listed historical monument since 1995. In 1676, the interior was redesigned and the roof panels were painted with scenes from the life of Saint Divy. An 18th‑century sacristy was added on the south side of the choir, and the bell tower, damaged by lightning, was rebuilt in 1823.

There are two calvaries associated with the enclos: the entrance calvary from the 16th century and a second calvary in the cemetery dating to 1652 (moved there from Kerdalaës in 1966). The enclosure, the church wall, and the entrance calvary were all listed as monuments in 1995.

The church has a transept, a choir and three bays. The north porch dates to 1629. Among the stained glass, the Triumph of the Virgin Mary is notable for its many figures and the donor Hervé de La Palue. The Rosary Altar features an altarpiece illustrating the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, and the altar to the dead, “Les Trépassés,” has wooden statues of Saints Isidore and Zite in Lower Brittany dress. A statue of Saint Divy is dated 1533, and a Renaissance-style baptismal font from 1623 stands inside. There is a confessional and a baptismal font with a baldaquin.

There is no ossuary in the enclosure, as it was demolished in the 20th century, and the traditional south porch is actually on the north side of the church. The cemetery calvary, dating to 1652, features statues of the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist and was moved to Saint Divy from Kerdalaës in 1966.

A 1531 stained-glass window, influenced by Dürer and Flemish masters, is important. The three lancets on the right show the Assumption; the left lancet honors Hervé de La Palue and includes Saint Michael fighting devils. The church also contains six murals from 1676 depicting the main events in Saint Divy’s life, and its architecture includes features such as blochets and sablière.