31.7.09

American churches



There seem to be some 50.000 US citizens living in Paris. All of them are probably not church goers, but I thought it may be interesting to learn something about the American churches in Paris. As far as I know, there are two major ones.


One is referred to as the American Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity) and you can find it on the fashionable Avenue George V. From here are administered different ministries in different countries in Europe. It’s Episcopalian and is of course visited also by British, French and many other nationalities. The church dates from 1866 but the community existed already a few decades before. (See also top picture.)
The other one is referred to as the American Church and you can find it on the Seine river bank at Quai d’Orsay. It has older origins, actually claiming to be the first American church established abroad, in 1814. The building is more recent, from 1929. It’s a protestant church which also offers a lot of more general services in the adjacent buildings. Unfortunately, I could not enter the church itself; only open for service on Sundays... and of course marriages etc.

There are at least two other smaller American churches, one is an Anglican church, Saint Michael’s, close to the British and American embassies, rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, and the other one is a catholic church, Saint Joseph’s, Avenue Hoche.

Nothing to do with the churches, but it may be interesting to have a look at an extremely decorated apartment house, just in front of the American Cathedral, designed by the nephew of Gustave Eiffel (André Granet) in 1914.

The entrance gate and especially the door handles at the building adjacent to the American Church struck me.

I wish you a nice weekend!

53 comments:

Virginia said...

Peter,
Wow, that top photo is stunning. Now WHY didn't I take that shot when we were there? Yours highlights the flags of the states SO beautifully! I have enjoyed reading about the other American church as well. You got some really nice shots on both of these, as always.
v

Virginia said...

That apartment building had those door handles??? How on earth did I miss those? I'm hopeless!HA

James said...

Very nice pictures and I bet those door handle raise some eyebrows of the church goers.

Sixpence and A Blue Moon said...

Peter, the first picture is stunning! I don't attend church, but I loved going inside European churches - they are so grand. Love the apartment, which I am sure I have seen but can't recall. Maybe I need to look through my pics and see if I photographed it.:) The door handles are awesome. I'd like to have one on my front door, even though it would be a too little grand for my house.:)

Starman said...

Granet's house seems like he might have borrowed from the style of Gaudi.

Karen said...

Beautiful. I must add to my list to visit these churches and I adore the mermaid door handles. I'm thinking that those apartments aren't for those on a budget. :=} What fun.

from cali said...

Lord have mercy, but those door handles are SOMETHING! Do they have a male counterpart anywhere? ;)
For some reason I have never photographed either church and I know I have passed the American Church. Must have had other things on my mind!

lyliane six said...

Je suis passée des centaines de fois devant celle de l'avenue George V sans y entrer.Un petit spectacle au Crazy Horse, on traverse l'avenue pour aller se faire pardonner.
Je ne savais pas qu'il en existait plusieurs, en tous cas toutes dans les beaux quartiers.

Mona said...

wow! those door handles are classic!

I always find churches awesome!

Adam said...

The American Church used to be known for its famous notice board where you could look for work and places to stay around the city. Mind you, that was before the internet!

arabesque said...

~ the door handles are definitely eccentric... i love the sort of gaudish inspired apartment...
and well, churches are always tres magnifique!! love to visit there sometime...:-)

White Rabbit said...

I love your photographs Peter - Keep them coming!

Ash said...

Wow, in the first shot - the light streaming in is gorgeous!

Brilliant images. Have a nice weekend Peter!

Cezar and Léia said...

This Church is amazing! Fabulous pictures!now...time for more notes here! Thanks dear friend!
Léia

alice said...

My god! Un instant j'ai cru que c'était les poignées de porte de l'église...;-)

Cergie said...

Argh ! Peter ! Tu fus plus intéressé par les seins des naïades que par le Saint des Saints !
Lorsque nous étions à SAn Francisco nous en avons vu des banques ayant des entrées de cathédrales en pierre et avec statues dans des niches ; le Dieu Argent est roi mais pas à Paris, ouf !

Thérèse said...

I discovered the American Church this summer, it was closed too...
@ Adam, the notice board is still there...
I did not know there were two other ones.
Bon week-end!

Cuckoo said...

The first photo is a classic one. Light streaming in beautifully. And I liked the last one too !

Had not you told they are handles, I wouldn't have guessed it. :-)

Have a great weekend, Peter.

claude said...

Tes photos sont très belles Peter. Mais là tu m'apprends qq chose.
Je connaissais l'Alliance Américaine mais pas les églises.
Tu vas me dire why not !

Unseen India Tours said...

Beautiful churches !! I have really not seen so much beautiful places before..THanks for sharing..Unseen Rajasthan

Cheryl said...

If I were an American living in Paris I think I'd still go to Notre Dame. (Religious services, especially Catholic ones, seem more enjoyable in other languages where I don't always understand what is being said.) I went to a Notre Dame service years ago and I found it very moving.

Mo said...

I know it but have never actually been inside. Bon week-end to you as well

krystyna said...

American churches in Paris are very similar to the Polish churches in Poland. I noticed the Polish flag in one of the churches.

I wish you a nice weekend too!

richard said...

I read the last part of this post with a wry smile. Sacred and profane indeed.

Speaking of religion I'll borrow your post to alert the world that the Free Church of Scotland has decided to allow ferry services to the Western Isles on Sundays. You still aren't allowed to breathe, eat or smile of course. I know you're an expert at digging things out Peter, but I doubt if even you could find an outpost in Paris. I think France is also banned by the Free Church.

Unknown said...

All churches are fantastic, but what amazed me the most was the apartment house designed by Eiffel's nephew! It's awesome!

Parisbreakfasts said...

wow what sexy door handles?
Gets an "R" rating in my book :O

Alain said...

Eglises Américaines, églises Russes, églises d'ici et d'ailleurs...on se demande quelle langue parle Dieu.

Shammickite said...

I really like the door handles. Maybe I should have looked for some just like that for my new kitchen cupboards??? Hmmm.... maybe NOT!
And I didn't know anything about the American churches in Paris. Would all the church services be held in English?

sonia a. mascaro said...

Wonderful photo reportage, Peter! Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice Sunday as well.

Harriet said...

As always you have such interesting posts with lovely photos! Thanks.

Cutie said...

I think I miss out a lot... Hehe... Beautiful shots of those churches....=)

Olivier said...

très belle, j'aime surtout la cour intérieure, fait penser au cloitre d'Harlem.

Leena said...

I hope, your weekend has been good and beautiful, Peter!
It took a while to read and look at your post , but I have to say, that it was worth it!
Have you been thinking publish a book from your Paris blogs?

Anonymous said...

I like the flags and for more reasons than color. Take them away and the picture would be a dud by comparison. As it is I think it is really nice as it the other photos you posted this time.

GMG said...

Wonderful pictures, as always!

Unknown said...

All churches are fantastic, American churches in Paris are very similar to the Polish churches in Poland. I noticed the Polish flag in one of the churches.
___________________
samanth
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PeterParis said...

Virginia:
Maybe you have to come back again, for the fourth time in a year? :-)

Virginia bis:
You didn't miss them; they are close to the other church! :-)

James:
I guess so! :-)

PeterParis said...

Sixpence...:
Churches are often beautiful indeed and ... don't forget the nice concerts you can listen to! :-)

Starman:
Certainly some traces of art nouveau! :-)

Karen:
Not only the building is nice, but the street, Avenue George V, is certainly an expensive one! :-)

PeterParis said...

from cali:
Maybe I shall let YOU look for the male version? :-)

Lyliane:
Donc, tu connais mieux Crazy Horse! :-)

Mona:
Yes, whether you are religious or not, churches mostly are beautiful and worth visiting! :-)

PeterParis said...

Adam:
The notice board is still there! :-)

arabesaue:
Can but agree to all your comments! :-)

Au Lapin Blanc:
I will do my best! :-)

PeterParis said...

Ash:
There have been a few weekends since you commented! Sorry for replying so late! :-)

Léia:
Thanks dear friend! :-)

Alice:
What a shock! :-)

PeterParis said...

Cergie:
J'avoue! :-)

Thérèse:
Always well informed! :-)

Cuckoos:
The door handles are really different! :-)

PeterParis said...

Claude:
Alors je dis "why not"! :-)

Unseen...:
However, there are so many churches and maybe some are even more beautiful! :-)

Cheryl:
To attend services where you don't understand is of course an idea! :-)

PeterParis said...

Mo:
Inside next time? :-)

Krystyna:
The "Polish flag" may be a flag of one of the American states? :-)

Richard:
I imagine you are not a member of the Free Church of Scotland? :-)

PeterParis said...

ParisBreakfasts:
At least no X rating! :-)

Alain:
Latin? :-)

Shammickite:
Yes, in English! :-)

PeterParis said...

Sonia:
Thanks! Always so kind! :-)

Harriet:
Thanks a lot! :-)

Cutie:
When you are absent, there is of course a risk of missing! Now, it's my turn! :-)

PeterParis said...

Olivier:
Toujours NYC dans ta tête! :-)

Leena:
Sorry, I know my posts are often a bit long! Do you know a publisher? :-)

Abraham:
I agree; the flags make the difference! :-)

PeterParis said...

GMG:
Thanks! :-)

Samantha:
As I already said above, the "Polish flag" may be a flag of an American state here! :-)

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

I just love your presentation style :)

Stop Worrying!

PeterParis said...

Bhavesh:
I appreciate! :-)

Unknown said...

Thanks very much for sharing interesting photos and story. I enjoy reading this post.
Samantha
Wireless Home Alarm Security Systems

Ruth said...

Very nice. And are the services in English? If you said in a comment, forgive me, I did not read them.

PeterParis said...

Samantha:
Good! :-)

Ruth:
The answere ie YES! :-)