In 1206 we find an order for the appropriation of the revenues of vacant benefices to the building of St. Pierre, till the work shall be finished; an expression which seems to imply that it was then in a state of some forwardness. In 1219 we have complaints against the then bishop, for neglecting to complete the edifice, or perhaps, only to repair it: in 1300 the first year’s revenue of vacant benefices was again ordered to be applied to the use of the fabric: in 1334 it was damaged by fire, and again in 1349: in 1380 application was made to the Pope, “pour lui demander quelques subventions,” in order to repair the church. The chapel of the Maccabees was founded in 1406; in 1430 was a terrible fire, which entirely destroyed the west front, and left the church a heap of ruins. In 1441 Felix V. granted the first year’s revenue of all benefices becoming vacant, for twenty years; a similar grant of a half-year’s revenue, probably for the same term, was made by Julius II., in 1505, principally to erect the southern tower; but this not proving sufficient, Clement VII., in 1525, prolonged it for four years. The west front was not restored till 1749, and it is said to be in imitation of the portico of the Pantheon.
The building, however, of which the above is the history, was not the original church. The period of the erection of the first edifice is unknown, but it was destroyed by an enemy before the year 515, and rebuilt immediately afterwards on a more magnificent scale, by Gondebaud, king of Burgundy. A fragment of this second church is said to be still in existence; and there are some indications in the present church of a still older building, which some fancy was a temple of Apollo.
Thus, then, we have a fragment of wall still existing in the present church, built before 515.
The fragment of the second church, if it really exist, escaped my observation.
Rejecting the consecration of some monarch in 1025, as uncertain, we may fairly assume, that the choir, in which the style of work is decidedly Norman, was erected before 1206.
The body of the building was probably finished not much after that time, or about 1219. Its character much resembles that of Salisbury Cathedral.
The style of the architecture is nowhere of a later date, in any considerable erection, except the west front, which was begun in 1749.
In all this the history and the internal evidence agree very well. There is some pleasure in such coincidences; but at the same time, it is saying that one has learnt nothing new from the edifice; indeed it can hardly be said, that it affords any important confirmation of former results, for it seems to have been long in progress, and prosecuted without zeal or energy. The dimensions are as follows:
| Feet. | Inch. | |
|---|---|---|
| Whole length internally | 202 | 0 |
| Length of transept | 111 | 0 |
| Length of nave | 137 | 0 |
| Width of nave | 23 | 3 |
| Width of side aisles | 10 | 0 |
| Width of nave and side aisles | 64 | 4 |
| Width of transept | 26 | 0 |
| Length of choir | 39 | 0 |
| Thickness of piers east to west | 9 | 0 |
| Thickness of piers north to south | 8 | 6 |
| Height of shafts to springing | 45 | 6 |
| Height of vaulting | 63 | 0 |
| Height of ditto of side aisles | 35 | 0 |
The arches are mixed, some round and some pointed; all of them have key-stones. The towers are at each end of the transept. The lower capitals are imitations of the Corinthian, or with grotesque figures. The bases have a deep scotia. There is some stained glass in the chevet, but it is of little consequence; and, for modern accommodation, there is a paltry gallery, and seats rising one above the other, instead of pews: a much finer building would fail to be impressive with such accessories. I attended divine service in it. There seems to be no kneeling, either here, or in the Protestant churches in France; but at Geneva the men take off their hats, which is not the case at Nismes.