“Ever wonder where a prayer for Christian unity began?” That’s a question that brings us to this very spot before Chapelle Paul Couturier. It stands as a beacon of faith and reconciliation in Lyon. This chapel is more than just stones and mortar. It is a place where history and hope intertwine.
The Chapelle Paul Couturier is located on Rue Henri IV in Lyon’s 2nd arrondissement. Its construction started in April 1876. Louis Sainte-Marie Perrin designed it for the Sisters of the Adoration Réparatrice. Auxiliary Bishop Mgr Thibaudier laid its first stone. Just a year and a half later, in 1877, the chapel was inaugurated by Mgr Caverot. From the very next day, the Holy Sacrament was brought here. It was meant for perpetual adoration.
Let’s jump ahead to the 20th century. Paul Couturier made this chapel a center for prayer. In 1933, he launched the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity here. It started as a small event. But it grew into an international movement. Couturier’s sister helped the Orthodox clergy who were exiled after the Russian Revolution. She created religious vestments for them.
Interestingly, the chapel became too small by 1935. The conferences expanded to include all Christian faiths. Even Judaism and Islam found a place here from 1936. Paul Couturier organized these events. Yet, he never spoke from the pulpit himself. His name was not on any programs.
In 1982, the Chemin Neuf Community took over from the Sisters of the Adoration Réparatrice. The convent became a student residence. The Chapelle Paul Couturier continued to host services. A Sunday evening mass became popular.
Inside the Chapelle Paul Couturier, the altar houses a sculpture by Joseph-Hugues Fabisch. It represents the dead Christ. Originally, the chapel featured reproductions of paintings. They depicted Mater Dolorosa and the Holy Face. These were copies of works by Théodelinde Bourcin-Dubouché. Statues of Old Testament figures were placed under the galleries. Melchizedek, Abraham, and Moses were represented.
Today, Chapelle Paul Couturier stands as a testament to faith. It also embodies the spirit of ecumenism. Its story is a reminder of Lyon’s role in promoting unity among Christians.