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Origin and history

The Church of the Conversion of Saint Paul, located in Saint Paul on the island of La Réunion, finds its origins in the destruction of a first church in 1689 in the Sables district. A wooden chapel was then built more eastward, becoming parish church in 1703. Replaced by a lava stone building carved under the direction of Masters Hybon and Auber, it was inaugurated in 1778 after the laying of its first stone in 1773. Its Latin cross plan includes a metal bell tower to the north and a cemetery to the south.

The church underwent several modifications and restorations, notably after fires, including that of 1905 which deprived the building of its bell tower, never rebuilt. The current ceiling in wooden slats dates back to 1910. In 2010, the ensemble — church, side bell tower, calvary, gate and ground of the square — was inscribed in the historic monuments, highlighting its heritage and architectural importance.

The monument reflects the evolution of construction techniques in Reunion, moving from wood to the local volcanic stone, while embodying the central role of the Catholic Church in the social and spiritual organization of the island under the Old Regime and beyond. His presbytery, added in 1754, strengthened his community anchor.

Today, the church stands at 68 Labourdonnais Street, showing both historical hazards (destructions, reconstructions) and the persistence of a major place of worship for the Reunions. Its architecture combines European influences and local adaptations, typical of religious buildings in French ultramarine territories.

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