Churches assigned to the Protestants after the Revolution
The Revolution declared national assets many no longer used monastery buildings. Napoleon Bonaparte assigned 130 of them to Protestant worship.
The Revolution declared national assets many no longer used monastery buildings. Napoleon Bonaparte assigned 130 of them to Protestant worship.
In Paris these included the Oratoire du Louvre (from 1811), Pentemont (from 1803), les Billettes (from 1808). According to a legend the Protestants were offered the Madeleine Church, which they refused being incompatible with their desire for discreetness.
In the provinces exemples included Nîmes (from 1793), Angers (from 1849), Lyon (Temple du Change, from 1803), Montauban,(from 1810), Bordeaux (temple of Hâ, after 1803).
The case of Beaumont-lès-Valence (Drôme) should be noted. The Protestant temple became a Catholic Church until 1808 and was then split in two by a wall and dedicated to both religions.
It should also be noted that existing Churches were bought back, as in Villers-le-Lac (1893), Neuilly-sur-Seine, a former Anglican Church (1876).
