Syndicat d'Initiative
de Cerfontaine
de Cerfontaine
1882
Mathieu Balle
From limestone blocks
To support the vaults of the church, six massive stone columns and two half-built columns have been placed on either side of the nave. This allows the church to have 3 aisles.
The capitals of these columns display two types of leaf motifs that alternate.
The stone columns are 4.02 meters tall: 2.37 meters for the base shaft (carved from a single piece), 93 centimeters for the plinths, and 72 centimeters for the capitals.
The circumference of the shafts is 1.92 meters, while the capitals measure 1.29 meters and the plinths 1.10 meters.
Each column corresponds to a column placed against the outer wall.
These columns are regularly decorated for various events that take place in the church, whether for the national holiday, the folkloric march of St. Lambert, the Christmas period, or official ceremonies.
As soon as churches are allowed on Roman territory, constructions begin to emerge everywhere, constructions whose foundations rest on these columns.
The stone columns play an essential role in church architecture, especially in Romanesque and Gothic styles. Their function is both structural and symbolic.
Technically, they ensure that the weight of the roof, vaults, or arches is supported, distributing the load to the ground. In large medieval churches, such as cathedrals, the columns allow for the construction of very tall and open buildings, without solid walls everywhere. Sometimes they are grouped to better support the vaults.
But columns are not only useful, they are also decorative and spiritual. They guide the eye towards the sky, while accompanying the soul's elevation towards God. They are often carved with leaf motifs, animals, or biblical scenes, especially on the capitals (the upper part).
In Christian symbolism, the column can represent faith, strength, or even saints, who support the Church like the columns support the building.