Envision a building that dares to be different. That is the \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth. It stands at the intersection of Rue H\u00e9non and Rue Philippe-de-Lassalle. This is in Lyon’s 4th arrondissement.
\u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth is not just another church. Its story is woven into the very fabric of this Croix-Rousse neighborhood. The parish was founded in March 1942. Cardinal GERLIER initiated it due to the area’s growth. Abb\u00e9 AMBLARD took charge of this new community.
Initially services took place in the chapel of the Sisters of Saint-Charles. This was on Rue Chazi\u00e8re. After that, a temporary chapel arose using reclaimed materials. Cardinal GERLIER blessed it in May 1944. This marked a new chapter for the faithful.
However this was not the end. The current \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth came later. Architects Daniel Genevois, Roger Mermet, and Marcel Sabattier designed it. They built it on land acquired from the Little Sisters of the Poor. The temporary chapel was demolished in 1961 to make way.
The decision to build was made on June 30, 1959. The architects were chosen after a competition on October 5, 1959. The first stone was blessed on September 23, 1962. Cardinal Archbishop GERLIER officiated. Finally the \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth was inaugurated on October 13, 1963.
Dedicated to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. She was proclaimed a patron of Europe by John Paul II. The \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth embraces modernity. It was constructed using concrete and glued-laminated timber.
The exterior might surprise you. The building’s religious purpose is subtle. Only two features clearly identify it as a church. There is the inscription “\u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth” on the front. A large cross stands nearby.
Inside, treasures await. The baptistery is circular promoting togetherness. Architects designed it to resemble a baptismal pool. The floor consists of assembled pebbles surrounded by a concrete wall. Copper baptismal fonts are topped with a domed lid.
Do not miss the wooden Virgin. Eug\u00e8ne Quentric created this artwork. Mgr Lebrun blessed it on January 7, 1968.
The icon of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is also very special. It portrays her standing with open arms symbolizing openness to God. She wears patched simple gray clothing. This shows her poverty and rejection of royal status. Henri Corta created it. It was unveiled during the parish jubilee in November 1992.
Look for the painting Christ Healing the Blind. Paul Borel created it in 1898. The Marius Bertrand residence donated it to the parish. It now graces the nave since July 2012.
Finally notice the column Hymn to Creation. The Marghieri family donated it in June 2019. Roland Marghieri originally conceived this simple piece for an art exhibition. It now stands as a symbol of God’s beautiful creation. The \u00c9glise Sainte-\u00c9lisabeth is a testament to faith. It reflects the spirit of its community and its time.