[ 326 ] 
XXVIII. 
ST. PATRICE DE EOUEN. Ey J. CASIMIE O'MEAGHEE. 
[Eead November 11, 1889.] 
The Parish Church of St. Patrice is situated in an elovated and 
northern part of the city of Eouen, in the centre of a quiet and 
pleasant quarter, and near the Square de Solferino, an open space ' 
front of the new Picture Gallery. "When it was built and by who 
there is no record, nor is there any tradition that the Irish Apostl 
visited Eouen. We know that on his return from captivity he tra- 
velled from Brotgalum to Trajectus, which is found on an ancien 
map of Gaul on the Eiver Dordogne, about 60 miles to the east o 
Burdigala, the modern Bordeaux. 
In 1228, on the feast of St. Lawrence, the Church of >S^^. Patric 
was burned. In 1374 the Archbishop Phillipe d'Alengon founded in 
St. Patrice the Confraternity of the Passion. On every Holy Thurs- 
day the Confraternity, recruited from the ranks of the most respect- 
able citizens, assembled in the church and formed a solemn procession, 
which was preceded by a band of children carrying the implements o 
the Passion, and followed by twelve poor men clothed at the expense 
of the Confraternity. After service and sermon, three of the principal 
members of the Confraternity washed the feet of the poor men, and 
subsequently entertained them — whilst each child that took part in 
the procession received five sous, a small loaf, and a herring. 
In 1442 the Confraternity performed a Passion Play in the 
Cimitiere des Jacobins^ and in 1498 a Passion Play was acted in th 
church. 
In 1535 the church was rebuilt on the original site, but on a larger 
scale. A Literary Society was founded in St. Patrice in 1543, with 
the object of encouraging the composition of verses and sonnets in 
commemoration of the death of Christ. Again, in 1592, the church 
was in the hands of the reconstructor, and in 1683 it was greatly 
damaged by a terrific storm. 
The church is a very interesting edifice to visit, although it offers 
but a poor idea of late decorated Gothic architecture ; considering it in 
its entirety, it is a very regular building, but of mediocre proportions. 
