Before the Seine was enclosed in its present bed, the church of
Saint-Eloi was situated on an Island. Afterwards, without changing
place, it found itself situated on the _terres neuves_, like the other
churches, Saint-Etienne-des-Tonneliers, Saint-Clement, and
Saint-Martin-du-Pont. In 1030, under the duke Robert, those new lands
were considered as suburbs of Rouen: _In suburbia Rotomagensi ecclesiam
sancti Eligii_, etc.
The church of Saint-Eloi was formerly considered as one of the best
lighted in the town of Rouen. There were, a short time since, but are
now walled up, three windows, of which the painted glass was executed in
the XVIth century; they have been transferred to Saint-Mary's, to
ornament the museum of antiquities. Formerly there was a well in the
choir, but which is now filled up, from which the water was drawn up by
a chain, from whence the proverb, still used in Rouen, is derived: "It
is cold as the chain of the well of Saint-Eloi."
This church has been granted for protestant worship, since 1803. The
number of persons who profess this worship in Rouen, is about 2,000. The
service commences at eleven o'clock in the morning. English service is
also performed in this church at three o'clock in the afternoon.
The _place Saint-Eloi_ does not offer any thing worthy of notice; it was
the ancient burying ground of the parish of that name: and has since
become the poultry and game market.