Soissons (Aisne, France) - Cathedral of Saints-Gervais-et-Protais
- Disclaimer
The dating found here is based on the work of John James, and is meant on this site to serve as a starting point. James' dating is derived from a system that uses his interpretation of the development of capitals over time as the basis for chronology, among other factors. His goal is to refine the dating to within years rather than decades. I have not fully embraced James' methodology, and will be developing this page from its current state to one which is admittedly more conservative. The relative expenditure values found in the Timeline are also based on James' work, and I believe these to be reasonably reliable. They are intended only to give a sense of the amount of work involved in each decade.
I have added the idea of the "project" as a way of separating work in buildings. In my mind, a "project" is a discrete section of work in a building that resulted from the one-time acquisition of funding. "Projects" are generally separated by at least a decade where no work was being done. It is my view that it would have been unwise to start a "project" that could not be finished and protected from the elements, and as such a "project" usually involved a wing or multiple wings of a building, from floor to roof. Rural churches, which could only secure small amounts of funding at irregular intervals, often were the result of many small projects, while the great churches, which benefitted from relatively consistent funding, may have involved only a few large projects.
I have added the idea of the "project" as a way of separating work in buildings. In my mind, a "project" is a discrete section of work in a building that resulted from the one-time acquisition of funding. "Projects" are generally separated by at least a decade where no work was being done. It is my view that it would have been unwise to start a "project" that could not be finished and protected from the elements, and as such a "project" usually involved a wing or multiple wings of a building, from floor to roof. Rural churches, which could only secure small amounts of funding at irregular intervals, often were the result of many small projects, while the great churches, which benefitted from relatively consistent funding, may have involved only a few large projects.
- Timeline with Relative Expenditure (if available, in building units)
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- Project A - 1170s - Phase 1 - south (b)
The footings to the south transept and to the walls of the choir were set out probably in two separate operations: in the choir walls the north was ahead of the south by a few courses while the south was attached to one side of the old church and the choir followed around the outside; land donated for the south in 1176
- Project A - 1170s - Phase 2 - south (a)
South aisle capitals and vaults
- Project A - 1180s - Phase 3 - south (gb)
South gallery bases and piers, choir wall bases in two campaigns, and first piers on south side of nave that included the four crossing piers and all in the W2,which would have intruded into the inside of the old church.
- Project A - 1180s - Phase 4 - south (g)
South gallery capitals and vaults with arches over aisles onto crossing piers and arcade to first bay of nave; rose in north-east end of gallery, choir aisle sills with vertical join against gallery.
- Project A - 1180s - Phase 5 - south (t)
South triforium string and capitals with a break by crossing
- Project A - 1180s - Phase 6 - choir wall (a)
Choir wall and window capitals
- Project A - 1180s - Phase 7 - south (c)
South clerestory string and capitals, start of vaults; the hemicycle aisle vault and aisle vault in WS1 together, from profiles; ES1 (c) shows decision to place crossing capitals at this height, implying a different design for the choir.
- Project A - 1180s - Phase 8 - south (cs)
South clerestory sill, choir aisle window capitals, with flyers built into walls; the encircling wall pauses at this point.
- Project A - 1180s - Phase 9 - south (cw)
South window capitals
- Project A - 1190s - Phase 10 - south (rc)
South cornice, roof and completion of hemicycle aisle vault: services could now be held in the south, so the old choir could be demolished and interior choir pier footings put in.
- Project A - 1190s - Phase 11 - choir piers (a)
Choir pier, capitals, arcade and the vaults.
- Project A - 1200s - Phase 12 - choir (t)
Choir and crossing triforium set out in 1200, with capitals with a much taller passage than in the south, indicating a clear decision to build the first "tall" design; in the WN the vertical joint is to the west of the WN2 shafts.
- Project A - 1200s - Phase 13 - choir (c)
Choir walkway, supports for flyers, and capitals with start of vaults; in raising the height the crossing capitals set higher, and older ones moved up to new location.
- Project A - 1200s - Phase 14 - choir (cw)
Choir window capitals, oculi
- Project A - 1200s - Phase 15 - sw crossing (t)
Triforium at SW crossing, one bay of transept and first in nave to stabilise this corner.
- Project A - 1210s - Phase 16 - choir (v)
Choir roof, vault and cornice with double window and oculus to south of WS1 pier
- Project A - 1210s - Phase 16 - stalls
The choir stalls could be completed by 1211 so the clergy could then move back into the choir
- Project A - 1210s - Phase 17 - nave (b)
Layout the nave walls west of the third piers to the entry.
- Project A - 1220s - Phase 18 - nave (a)
Nave aisle wall and pier capitals
- Project A - 1220s - Phase 19 - nave (t)
Nave triforium, possibly with the bases to north transept
- Project A - 1220s - Phase 20 - nave (cs)
Nave string, window sill and walkway.
- Project A - 1230s - Phase 21 - nave (c)
Nave clerestory and window capitals
- Project A - 1230s - Phase 22 - north (a)
North transept aisle walls and pier capitals
- Project A - 1230s - Phase 23 - nave (rc)
Nave cornice and roof
- Project A - 1230s - Phase 24 - north (av)
North transept aisle vaults
- Project A - 1230s - Phase 25 - nave (v)
Nave vaults
- Project A - 1240s - Phase 26 - north (t)
North triforium
- Project B - Later - Phase 27 -
Work in the north continues, but slowly, and a long time before the north window and the high vaults are achieved.
- Primary Sources for Dating
1176/1207 - SOISSONS
Land donated for south transept by Bishop Nivelon de Chérizy
Land donated for south transept by Bishop Nivelon de Chérizy
The ides of September, Nivelon…gave and which had been part of the court, in that place is the right arm of our church, with the chapel of Saint-Martin.
1182 or later - SOISSONS
Ancoul de Pierrefonds gave 5 marks for starting the apse
Ancoul de Pierrefonds gave 5 marks for starting the apse
Finally, this name [Ancoul] is attached to the position of Dean, seen in two donation charters of 1180 and 1182.
1190 - SOISSONS
Raoul de Braine gave money for a chaplaincy
Raoul de Braine gave money for a chaplaincy
Hugo, prior and John, deacon and the entire chapter of the church of Soissons. Let it be known that Radulfus of Braine as a canon of ours institutes a chaplaincy in our church…in the year of the incarnation 1190.
1192 - SOISSONS
Remains of Josselin, who had died in 1152, were taken up from in front of altar
Remains of Josselin, who had died in 1152, were taken up from in front of altar
…Buried under a tomb before the altar of the apostles Saint Peter and Paul in the nave of the cathedral of Soissons, translated to a mausoleum within the walls of the apse of the church of Longpont, on the side of the epistle…
1192 - SOISSONS
Chapel of SS. Peter and Paul founded
Chapel of SS. Peter and Paul founded
Nivelon de Cherizy founded the chapel of Saint Pierre and Saint Paul in 1192…but it should be said that the body of Josselin de Vierzy, Bishop of Soissons, placed in the chapel of Saint Pierre it did not prevent him from being transferred to Longpont since. Lord Nivelon…to serve the chapel of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul.
1193/1208 - SOISSONS
Chaplaincies founded
Chaplaincies founded
Radulf III d’Oulchy, son of Avelina de Cramailles, cousin of Bishop Nivelon, became prior and archdeacon from 1193 to 1208. The chapels of Saints Andrew, Cornelius and Cyprian were founded, and numerous donations from the living and the dead were donated to the chapter.
1202 or earlier - SOISSONS
Canon Hubert de Cugniéres (d. 1202) gave the glass for two roses to the south of the apse
Canon Hubert de Cugniéres (d. 1202) gave the glass for two roses to the south of the apse
Two others were made on the right side of the choir, which were called "O" by the people of that time, and which were given by Hugues de Cugnière, canon of the same church, before he had left to go to Syria where he died.
1208-1219, 19 May - SOISSONS
Bishop Haymard de Provins, successor to Nivelon, gifted a hundred livres for the stalls
Bishop Haymard de Provins, successor to Nivelon, gifted a hundred livres for the stalls
He donated to us one hundred pounds from which stalls had been made for our choir.
1212, May 13 - SOISSONS
Choir occupied
Choir occupied
In the year 1212, III ides of May, the flock yielded the choir and the canons began to enter this place.
1215 or earlier - SOISSONS
Obituary for Countess Eleanor de Vermandois
Obituary for Countess Eleanor de Vermandois
Obit Eleanor, Countess of Saint-Quentin who gives to us all the oak located above the head of our church and all of the wood for our stalls and for one much desired window.
1223, 11 July or earlier - SOISSONS
Obituary of Philippe-Auguste provided funds for window
Obituary of Philippe-Auguste provided funds for window
He dedicated also to us three pallia and 30 livres parisis to make a great window in the apse of our church.
Undated (1207) - SOISSONS
Guy de Chézy made doyen, and founded chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste behind the choir, and gave the glass
Guy de Chézy made doyen, and founded chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste behind the choir, and gave the glass
Dean Guy is known as the founder of the chapel of Saint John the Baptist… Guy de Chézy or of Ripelonge…one recalls as founder of the chapel of Saint John the Baptist, which is behind the choir.