This was a unique post I did couple years back and would like to update with fresh text as I think they are wonderful monuments off the beaten path in Paris. Most come to see the renown and popular in tourist books but these have a wonderful history of their own. Let me show you in my black and white series, no pictures on the American churches in Paris !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I
These are churches seldom if ever visited by tourists or even casual resident /expats. We do come to Paris or any other city in Europe especially, and one of the thing to do is to see these wonderful monuments to the architecture genious of the past. Even if we are not religious ,these stands as a place worth the detour.
Paris has a small Anglo Catholic Church, that of Saint Joseph at 50 avenue Hoche near the Arc de Triomphe. The church was built by the Passionate Fathers in 1868 and the new Church was renovated in 1987. Hardly recognisable as a church but rather a modern building. Parish for the English-speaking Catholic Community of Paris. You get there on the metro CDG Etoile lines 1, 2, 6 & RER A. Webpage: http://www.stjoeparis.com/StJoeParis/
The Paris tourist office on St Joseph Church: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/72405/Saint-Joseph-s-Church
The American Church was the first American Church to established themselves outside the USA! It was created in 1814 ; located at 65, Quai d’Orsay, in the 7éme arrondissement, not far from the Seine river. The current Church was built in 1931.
By 1814, many Protestants Americans in Paris were welcome in homes around Paris than on a temple de l’Oratoire du Louvre from 1816 under the protection of Talleyrand. The first American Chapel was built in 1857 at 21, rue de Berri. It was in 1858 that emperor Napoléon III officially recognized the American Church of Paris. In 1925, the Church acquired land on the quai d’Orsay and ordered architect Carrol Greenough the construction of a big neo gothic Church. The construction was finished on March 6 1931 even if the first stone was done on March 1st 1926. The American Church is frequented by the Protestants of Paris coming from 40 different countries and 35 Christian groups at last count.
The stained glass on the north and those on the nerf are all the same dimensions. Some themes on the glass gives honor to the American fallen in WWI. The Organ buffet has gothic sculptures and the organ has four keyboards and 3 375 ring cables manufacture in Hambourg,Germany ; and open up with a series of concerts in 1988. The Chapel has a portrait as Christ looking at Jerusalem by a Canadien Frank M. Armington that was behind the altar but now moved to give space to the organ . The nearest metro station is Invalides lines 8 and 13 and the gare des Invalides RER C is close by.
The official American Church webpage: https://www.acparis.org/
The Paris tourist office on the American Church: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71140/The-American-Church-in-Paris
I must say here that the two above I have been maybe once or twice since been in France.
There you go something different from your regular visits to our beautiful Paris, eternal and well beyond words . Again, hope you have enjoyed this post on the American churches in Paris !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 