Tarn in France refers to both a department and a major river in the Occitanie region of southern France, known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, medieval towns like Albi (the prefecture) and Cordes-sur-Ciel, diverse terrain including the Black Mountains, Gaillac vineyards, and the dramatic Tarn Gorge (Gorges du Tarn), making it a destination for culture, nature, and gastronomy. It offers a quieter, authentic French experience close to Toulouse and Carcassonne.

One of the churches in the department of Tarn shows its statues could have been supplied by the same person who supplied Abbé Saunière with ornamentation for his church of St Marie Magdalene, since it bears the same symbolism, including the Believer’s favourite, the statue of the Devil being pulverised by the Four Angels that are making the Sign of the Cross above the Holy Water Stoup by the entrance. The difference in the church in the Tarn Department is that it is part of the 14th Station of the Cross. It also bears the inscription “Don de Mr. Ernest Raymond” – that could mean “donated by Mr Ernest Raymond”.

If the prestigious sculptor and painter Giscard of Toulouse was the supplier of the Church decoration of Tarn, it would then have been grateful to a generous donor who provided the money – whereas the trafficking in masses would have generated the money given by Abbé Saunière for his church of Mary Magdalene at Rennes-le-Château.

The statue of the Devil in a church isn’t common, but it’s also hardly unknown. A similar statue was once shown on the BBC One Antiques Road Show (See Putnam & Wood).

A statue of the Devil being pulverised by the Holy Water Stoup is also found in the Collegiate Church of Saint-Vincent located in Montréal d'Aude, France; but whereas Montréal in 1206 was the site of debate between the Cathars and Roman Catholics (as part of Pope Innocent III's program to convert the Cathars in the area to Roman Catholicism); Abbé Saunière’s purpose was to try and stem the popular flow of Republicanism in France. Both the Cathars and the Republicans were regarded as being The Devil by the Roman Catholic Church in France. The Roman Catholic Church still equates the Cathars with the Devil to this very day, according to this opinion by Thomas J. Nash dated 14 July 2024 in the Catholic World Report. For the record, I do not have anything to do with Sectarian controversies.

Both of the figures of the Devil below being pulverised by the Holy Water Stoup are said to have been designed by the sculptor Father Claudio Granzotto (1900-1947), having visited Rennes-le-Château, following his visit to Lourdes. About Father Claudio Granzotto on Facebook.

Statue found in the Collegiate Church of Saint-Vincent
located in Montréal d'Aude, France.