Hidden within the bustling 17th arrondissement of Paris stands the Chapelle Saint-François de Sales a testament to faith and architectural evolution. This isn’t just one church but two. Imagine a story spanning nearly a century two buildings connected by a hallway. This is the story of the Chapelle Saint-François de Sales.
In 1860 the hamlets of Ternes Monceau Batignolles and Epinettes became part of Paris. A burgeoning population needed a church. In 1873 amidst fields the first Chapelle Saint-François de Sales was built. Architect Edouard Delebarre de Bay designed it in a neo-Roman style. The stained-glass windows by Henri Chabin depict scenes from the life of Saint Francis de Sales. Anne-Marie Roux-Colas sculpted the angel-shaped holy water fonts. It became a parish in 1875. It quickly proved too small.
By 1905 the area’s population boomed to 35000 souls. The original church couldn’t accommodate everyone. Parishioners funded a second larger church. Architect Joseph-Eugène Ewald designed it in a neo-Roman style. This time it was built next to the first church. It opened in 1913. The two are connected by a hallway.
The new church’s facade is simpler lacking a bell tower. It features three arched entryways. Above are three large stained-glass windows. A mosaic of Christ blessing the visitors greets those entering the porch. Inside the large nave boasts a barrel vault. The chancel is semicircular with apsidioles flanking it.
Many artists contributed to the church’s interior. Frédéric Montenard’s paintings depict scenes from Jesus’s life and Saint Francis de Sales. Jac Galland created stained glass featuring floral designs based on Pascal Blanchard’s drawings. The organs too have a history. The first installed around 1900 was restored in 1985. The second organ dates back to 1920 and received updates in 1982.
The Chapelle Saint-François de Sales isn’t just about architecture. It’s about the devotion of the community the artistry it inspired the faith that binds it all together. The two churches stand as a remarkable symbol of growth faith and artistic collaboration. Each detail from the stained-glass windows to the sculptures tells a story. This is a story of a parish church a lasting symbol of faith. It’s a story worth experiencing firsthand.