Lost in the middle of the countryside, the Saint Georges chapel is the last vestige of a priory of Augustinian monks, dating back to the Middle Ages. And above all, it bears witness to the frairies, this social organization typical of southern Brittany, as explained by the mayor of Guémené-Penfao, Isabelle Barathon: “We have everything about a brotherhood. We have the chapel, its monks, its priest and its farmers who organize themselves around a mill, an oven.”
For the chosen one, it is a great pleasure to see, after several attempts, her beloved chapel selected as part of the Heritage Mission: “It’s peaceful here and it’s beautiful. Look at this pretty altarpiece at the back made by a carpenter who made cupboard doors! It’s something that is not worked like other churches or chapels can be. “
– Anne-Bertrand
It is Annick, neighbor of the chapel, who has the keys, like her parents and grandparents before her. The old lady remembers going there with a little neighbor “but it was not to do nonsense, huh!”. She also remembers the foot of St. George enclosed under a glass bell. Because in his youth the chapel still opened on the occasion of processions.
André came in curious, from Blain. He wanted to see what exactly this Saint Georges chapel, retained by the Mission Patrimoine, looked like. Looking at the roof in very poor conditionthis former roofer says: “I’m a little surprised, there’s really work to do!”
– Anne-Bertrand
A diagnosis has already been carried out and the works of the chapel, classified in 2004 as a Historic Monument, are calculated at 650,000 euros. The roof, the frame and the stained glass windows will be renovated as a priority. For the rest, we will see. Isabelle Barathon wants to leave the chapel “in his juice”. And she adds: “We don’t want to redo it all clean, brand new. We want to keep this simple and old soul.” The mayor of Guémené-Penfao hopes to reopen at the end of 2023, with a museographic space in or around the chapel.
Because ultimately, the mayor of Guémené-Penfao expects this Loto du Patrimoine notoriety more than money: “It’s a very rustic, very peasant chapel. A beautiful image of the agricultural world of which I am very proud.”