 The story - 2nd part
Father Saunière
On june 1rst
1885, the clergyman Berenger Saunière was appointed priest of Rennes-le-Château. He
succeded Father Antoine Croc who had himself succeded Father Charles Eugene Mocquin.
There, he found a ramshackle church. The village did not have enough money to restore it.
As the presbytery needed
repair, the priest had to live at Antoinette Marce's for a while. The cost of the most
urgent repairs was said to be about 2797 Francs (using the old gold value of the franc).
Saunière had to leave the
village for some time because of an anti-republican speech he made on october 4th 1885. He
came back to Rennes-le-Château in july 1886. Thanks to a gift of 3000 F (gold value) from
Marchioness of Chambord and 1400 F (or 2500 F) given by the local council, he was able to
begin the restorations. He spent 518 F (gold value) of his own money. Some say he would
have inherited this money from Father Pons.
During the
work, the workers found a hiding place in the ground. Later, they said there was a little
cauldron filled with golden coins but Father Saunière told them they were only holy
medals from Lourdes. The priest had the altar built over the hiding place.
In 1886,he offered a vermeil chalice to Father Grassaud,priest of Amélie les bains.It
still exists and it was dated 19th century
Those who
worked with Saunière are :
- Marie Dénarnaud his servant
- The building contractor, Elie Bot.
- The bricklayers Pibouleau and Nazaire Babou.
- The altar boys Rousset et Antoine Verdier
In 1891,he
asked the town council for the right to build a calvary before the church. In spring,
Bérenger Saunière began to work on the garden in front of the church. He brought stones
from the country himself to build a grotto. He also build a calvary on which was written
"Christus A.O.M.P.S. Defendit".
3rd
part |
