France Unable to Save Crumbling Churches

By Angela Doland

Associated Press Writer

Fri, Apr. 18 2008

GESTE, France (AP) — Mayor Jean-Pierre Leger was married and baptized his children at Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens church in this village in western France. Not without sadness, he is now planning to bulldoze the 19th century building.

A view of the 19th century church of Geste, in the Anjou region, on Nov.5, 2007. The church was shuttered and deemed a safety hazard, and a demolition permit was delivered several weeks ago. France is struggling to keep its tens of thousands of churches in good repair _ especially the chapels in the countryside, many of which host Mass for their dwindling parishioners only once every few weeks.

The dilemma of what to do with churches that have fallen out of favor — and into disrepair — is facing towns and villages across France and other European countries. Some communities have dynamited churches deemed too expensive to maintain. Others have taken a less radical approach, selling them as housing. the rest image