Church of Saint Andrew en Savoie

Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of St. Andrew found its origins in the sixth century, when Avit de Vienne erected a first place of worship on the ruins of a Roman temple. At that time, Annemasse was a decanal seat of the diocese of Geneva. This first building suffered the vicissitudes of history, especially during the Bernese occupation (1536–late 16th century), which led to several reconstructions. In 1597, François de Sales participated in the Forty Hours of Prayer, symbolizing the restoration of Catholic worship after religious unrest.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: the bell tower was truncated and rebuilt in 1812. A restoration project aborted in 1841, but in 1860 the medieval church was replaced by a new neo-Gothic building, blessed in 1869. Its bell tower, completed in 1867, peaks at 32 meters. The organ, by Joseph Merklin (1875), and the bells, melted by Claude Paccard (1820) and recast in 1956, bear witness to his artistic heritage.

The 20th century saw two major restorations (1956 and 1998), while the parvis was completely renovated between 2019 and 2022. This work highlights the desire to preserve this emblematic monument, linked to the religious and historical identity of Annemasse and Savoy.

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