American Church in Paris

Not to be confused with the American Cathedral in Paris.

American Church in Paris
Église américaine de Paris
Street view of the American Church in Paris from the Quai d'Orsay
American Church in Paris The location of the American Church in Paris
48°51′44.0″N2°18′23.7″E / 48.862222°N 2.306583°E / 48.862222; 2.306583
Location	Paris
Country	France
Denomination	Interdenominational
Website	acparis.org
History
Former name(s)	American Chapel in Paris
Founded	1814
Dedication	1931
Architecture
Style	15th century Gothic
Groundbreaking	March 1, 1926
Completed	September 6, 1931
Specifications
Capacity	600 (main level), 100 (balcony)
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)	Rev. Dr. Paul Rock

The American Church in Paris (formerly the American Chapel in Paris) was the first American church established outside the United States. It traces its roots back to 1814, and the present church building - located at 65 Quai d'Orsay in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France - dates to 1931.

History

The upper room in l'Oratoire du Louvre, home to American worship services from 1816 to 1830.

In 1814, American Protestants started worshiping together in homes around Paris and at the Oratoire du Louvre temple. ^[2] The first American sanctuary was built in 1857, on rue de Berri. ^[3]

The American Church in Paris was then, as now, an independent interdenominational fellowship, for all those adhering to the historic Christian tradition as expressed in the Apostles' Creed. It served both the American expat community, and a wide variety of other English-speaking people from different countries and denominational backgrounds.

Today

The American Church, or ACP, ^[4] continues to minister to many Anglophone Protestants in Paris, with multicultural programming, and a congregation coming from some 40 nations and 35 Christian denominations.

The congregation is led in worship by the senior pastor, associate pastor, youth & young adults pastor and a retired guest pastor who handles weddings.^{[ citation needed ]} Its staff is also diverse in terms of background and denomination. It is run by a church council represented by a committee of ministries namely: Communications, Community Life, Christian Education, Facilities, Finance and Stewardship, Human Resources, Welcoming, Mission Engagement, and Worship and Music. The building hosts two bilingual nursery schools, a variety of twelve-step program recovery groups, fitness classes, kung fu, basketball leagues, a free concert series, and an ad board for housing and job opportunities. Many more community-based services are housed in the church building.

The closest métro station is Invalides

Gallery

• The church spire and the Eiffel Tower
• 
  The distinctive green spire of the American Church in Paris in front of the base of the Eiffel Tower
• 
  The Eiffel Tower with the church spire on the right from the Pont Alexandre III
• 
  A close-up view of the spire from the Invalides bridge, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
• 
  The spire, center, as seen from the Invalides bridge

• Views of the Church
• 
  The church entrance from Quai d'Orsay
• 
  The courtyard, with the parish house on the right and the sanctuary on the left
• 
  The communion table and organ
• 
  Interior

See also

• American Cathedral in Paris
• American Church in Berlin
• American Church in Rome
• The Scots Kirk

References

1. Cochran 1931, Chronological record.
2. "L'Eglise de l'Oratoire Saint Honoré ou du Louvre". Oratoire du Louvre (in French). n.d. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
3. Cochran 1931, Chapter V.
4. "Welcome to the ACP — A Beacon on the Seine since 1857". The American Church in Paris. Retrieved 1 December 2022.

Sources

• Cochran, Joseph W. (1931). Friendly Adventurers a Chronicle of the American Church of Paris (1857-1931). Paris: Brentano's. ASIN   B000J0NSKA. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• A Glimpse of Heaven a Documentary Film on the American Church in Paris