The Protestant Church of Reims () is a large Protestant church in

Reims Reims ( ; ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French Departments of France, department of Marne (department), Marne, and the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 12th most populous city in Fran ...

, France, built in 1921–1923 to replace an earlier building that had been destroyed during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

(1914–1918). The building is in flamboyant Neo-Gothic style. Originally the interior was decorated with

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

frescoes, but these deteriorated and have been painted over.

History

The Reformed Church of Reims was established by royal decree on 30 April 1832. On 15 December 1867 the Reformed Temple was opened on the Boulevard Lundy in a converted building that had formerly been a riding school. During

(1914–18) the temple was destroyed by incendiary shells. After the war it was rebuilt in the same location. The foundation stone was laid on 23 October 1921. The temple was dedicated on 24 June 1923 by Pastor Louis Gonin, president of the Presbyteral council of Reims. The interior walls were originally covered with

frescoes by

Gustave Louis Jaulmes Gustave Louis Jaulmes (14 April 1873 – 7 January 1959) was an eclectic French artist who followed the neoclassical trend in the Art Deco movement. He created monumental frescoes, paintings, posters, illustrations, cartoons for tapestries and car ...

, representing subjects such as the Tree of Life, Tables of the Law and Huguenot Cross with tears, with many plant decorations. The pulpit, in

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

style, was dismantled in 1972. In 1973 the frescoes were covered with white paint due to their deteriorated condition. This gives the temple a sober or austere interior, more in line with the

Reformed Church Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyterian, ...

tradition. A great organ was built between 1972 and 1976, with 53 registers. Construction was overseen by pastor Pierre Vallotton, who was passionate about organ music and the construction of instruments. The organ was inaugurated on 17 October 1976 by Arsène Muzerelle, organist of

Reims Cathedral Notre-Dame de Reims (; ; meaning "Our Lady of Reims"), known in English as Reims Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in the French city of the same name, the seat of the Archdiocese of Reims. The cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and wa ...

. .

Building

The building was designed by Charles Letrosne (1868–1938) in a

flamboyant Flamboyant () is a lavishly-decorated style of Gothic architecture that appeared in France and Spain in the 15th century, and lasted until the mid-sixteenth century and the beginning of the Renaissance.Encyclopedia Britannica, "Flamboyant style ...

neo-Gothic style influenced by

Eugène Viollet-le-Duc Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc (; 27 January 181417 September 1879) was a French architect and author, famous for his restoration of the most prominent medieval landmarks in France. His major restoration projects included Notre-Dame de Paris, ...

. It was modeled on the ''Temple de l'Étoile'' in Paris. The layout is that of Latin cross, which is unusual in a church built for Protestants. The nave is built in concrete on foundation piles deep. The nave is long, and the transept is long. The vaulted ceiling rises to . The windows represent biblical themes. File:Façade du Temple.jpg, Facade File:Patio du Temple de Reims.jpg, Patio File:Journées du patrimoine 158.JPG, Entrance File:Baptistère temple de Reims 176.JPG, Baptistry

Notes

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT: Churches in Marne (department) Buildings and structures in Reims