I
cycled to Songeson up the steep
climb from the valley floor at
Doucier. I was rewarded with
stunning views from a lookout
point over the lakes at the foot
of the Cascades de Herrisson. St George
stands on a high point above the
village street. At first sight,
it is a typical cruciform church
of the area, but it is actually
of some significance.
The restoration of
1780 was a light one, and much of
what you see dates from the
mid-16th century. Most striking
from the outside is the stone
pamment roof, typical of older
agricultural buildings in the
area but so so often replaced by
tiles on churches. The pamments
here survived the fire of 1833,
and the collapse of the original
cloche.
The bell tower had
been added at the end of the 18th
century in three stages, with an
open porch beneath. Presumably
the font appeared at the same
time; it follows the local
fashion by being built into the
north wall, with an image of the
baptism of Christ above. In front
of it stands an alms box carved
from a single trunk of wood.
The painting in the
sanctuary of St George killing
the dragon is an odd one. The
dragon is a wicked thing,
malevolent and intent on murder.
Quite different from the vapid
imagery that surrounds the
Saint's role as England's patron.
The painting is signed Vandel
de St Cloud 1852.
Outside the church,
on the south side of the later
sacristy, there is a lintel which
reads: Hoc factum est cura D
Mannin ('this was built by
the Priest D Mannin').
Saint- George,
Songeson, is in the middle of its
village which is on the D39 road
between Doucier and le Frasnois.
It is a Monument Nationale,
and appears to be kept open.
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