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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 1, 31. Of the Church at Bourges

Now one of their disciples went to the city of Bourges and brought the people tidings of the salvation of all mankind through Christ the Lord. A few only believed; these were ordained priests, and learned the manner of chanting psalms; they were likewise instructed in the method of building churches and properly celebrating the rites due to Almighty God. As they had as yet small resources for building, they begged the house of a certain citizen to serve as a church. But those of senatorial family, and other chief men of the place, were at that time in the bonds of heathen worship, while the new believers belonged to the poor, according to the words of the Lord¹ when He rebuked the Jews, saying: ‘The harlots and the publicans go into the kingdom of heaven before you.’ Failing therefore to obtain the house which they sought, they repaired to a certain Leucadius, the first senator of Gaul, belonging to the family of that Vettius Epagathus whose death at Lyons for the name of Christ we have recorded above.² When they had made known to him their faith and their petition, he made this answer: ‘If the house which I possess at Bourges should prove worthy of such use I should not refuse to give it.’ At these words they prostrated themselves at his feet and offered him three hundred pieces of gold with a silver salver, saying that the house was well fitted for this mystery. Thereupon he took three pieces of gold to bring him a blessing, generously excusing them payment of the rest. At this time he was still fast bound in the errors of idolatry, but now became a Christian and turned his house into a church. It is to-day the first church of Bourges, constructed with wondrous workmanship, and made illustrious by the relics of the first martyr, Stephen.

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