This church is the most beautiful monument of the artistic heritage of Brignais. Dedicated to Saint-Clair (590-660), patron saint of the blind and partially sighted persons, its first foundations dated from 1859. It was built on the place of the former feudal church and of the former cemetery. This church was built thanks to public subscriptions and town funds.
The architect, Claire Tisseur, born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon (writer of the "Littré de la Grand'Côte"*, and more famous, in France, under its pseudonym Nizier du Puitspelu.) and the abbot Rival, priest of the parish, presided the building of the monument.
Thanks to its architecture and its furnishing, the monument forms a remarkable unity of ogival style of the 13th century, modernized in the 20th century.
The woodwork (the pulpit, the confessionals and the stalls of the choir) is realised by sculptor Aubert from Lyon.
The bell, dated from 1492, was listed in the "Inventaire des Monuments Historiques", on 27th November 1905.
The organ was built by organ makers of the Jura mountains, Hartmann and Deloye, for the Benedictine community of Pradines (near the town of Roanne) in 1972. As it was for sale, the association "Les Amis de l'Orgue de Brignais", helped by the town hall, bought it in 1955.
The size of the organ is fairly important (20 timbers). It integrates harmoniously the west transept of the church due to its dimensions. The organ builder, Hervé Clénet (from "Bectave-Aguin" - Gers department) and his assistant Jean Boissonade (from "Séverac l'Eglise" - Aveyron department), restaured the organ. The assembling, after restauration, was made by Jean Boissonade, helped by Maurice Crouzet and Jean-Marie Royet, from Brignais.
The stain-glass windows : the five large stained-glass windows of the choir and the eight smaller windows of the lateral chapels were made by Mr Mauvernay, a glass-worker for Saint-Galmier. One of the roses represents the virtues of the Virgin, the other, the virtues of Saint-Clair. The stained-glass windows of the lawer naves represent scenes of Christian life. The designs were made by the abbot Rival.
* a famous book encyclopedia with many humorous and picturesque anecdotes, inspired by the true and viviacious spirit of Lyon and its people.