Classical · Churches

Église Saint-Georges

Lyon

Église Saint-Georges is a Catholic church located in the Vieux Lyon neighborhoods and attached to the parish of the primatiale Saint-Jean de Lyon. Dedicated to the Christian saint Georges de Lydda, it stands on a site with a long religious history. According to excavations, the present church occupies the location of the original primitive churches.

The first ecclesiastical building on this site was founded in the 6th century by Sacerdos, who established a place of worship under the invocation of Sainte Eulalie, together with a nearby monastery for nuns linked to the church. After damage caused by Saracen incursions in the 8th century, the church was restored by Leidrade around the year 800 and then dedicated to Saint Georges. This second church later gave its name to the surrounding district. The current building was rebuilt starting in 1842 and constructed in neo-Gothic style by architect Pierre Bossan in 1844–1845.

Map showing the location of Église Saint-Georges in Lyon
Location of Église Saint-Georges in Lyon

Nearby Objects

History and Architecture of Saint-Georges Church

Eglise Saint-Georges is a Catholic place of worship located in the Vieux Lyon neighborhoods and depends on the parish of the primatiale Saint-Jean de Lyon. It is dedicated to the Christian saint Georges de Lydda. The church's second building was founded by Leidrade and gave its name to the surrounding district. The current structure was constructed in a neo-Gothic style by architect Pierre Bossan in 1844-1845.

Historical Development of Saint-Georges Church

The site of Saint-Georges Church has a long and layered history. According to excavations, the current church stands on the location of the original primitive churches. The first ecclesiastical building on this site was founded in the 6th century by Sacerdos. It was established as a place of worship under the invocation of Sainte Eulalie, with a nearby monastery for nuns linked to the church. In the 8th century, the church was damaged by Saracen waves and was restored around the year 800 by Leidrade, after which it was dedicated to Saint Georges.

From the beginning of the 14th century, the Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem arrived in Lyon, and in 1315 they settled in the former monastery adjacent to the church. The church remained a parish church, but it was attached to the commandery. It was restored again at the end of the 15th century, when Humbert de Beauvoir built the commandery hotel near the church in 1492, restored Saint-Georges Church, and renovated the choir end. He also placed his coat of arms, quartered gold and gules, together with those of the order inside the church.

The church was closed in 1792 by decision of Lyon mayor Louis Vitet, and non-juring priests were persecuted. After this, the building deteriorated rapidly because of lack of maintenance, and the tower partially collapsed on June 11, 1793. Rebuilding began in 1842. The commandery was declared national property, occupied by various tenants, and sold in 1807. Its building later caught fire in 1854 and was destroyed in 1857, and a school group was built on the site in 1884.

Religious Use and Recent History

The church has hosted the fraternity celebrating Mass in the Lyonnais rite following the 1988 motu proprio Ecclesia Dei. Its parish later became diocesan again and was served by former priests of the Saint-Pierre fraternity who joined the archdiocese. On October 5, 2012, Cardinal Barbarin signed the incardination of three of the five priests serving the church. After exterior restoration works, the church was inaugurated on June 23, 2013, in the presence of Cardinal Barbarin and the mayor of Lyon, Gerard Collomb.