Destroyer fire 11-12 mars 1823 (≈ 12)
Church destroyed by fire.
1180
First entry
First entry 1180 (≈ 1180)
Papal Bull citing the chapel.
1205
Chapel considered recent
Chapel considered recent 1205 (≈ 1205)
Act confirming its construction.
1310
Status with the Abbey
Status with the Abbey 1310 (≈ 1310)
Official links with the Abbey of Aulps.
fin XVIe siècle
Become a church
Become a church fin XVIe siècle (≈ 1695)
Centre of an archpried.
1834
Consecration after reconstruction
Consecration after reconstruction 1834 (≈ 1834)
First reconstruction validated.
1860
Building in ruins
Building in ruins 1860 (≈ 1860)
Prohibition of access in 1866.
1883-1885
Neo-Gothic reconstruction
Neo-Gothic reconstruction 1883-1885 (≈ 1884)
Plans of architect Ruphy.
23 juin 1886
New consecration
New consecration 23 juin 1886 (≈ 1886)
Today's church opened.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Architecte Ruphy - Designer of the current church
Author of neo-Gothic plans (1883-1885).
Origin and history
The church of Saint John the Baptist, known as La Moussière, is mentioned for the first time in a papal bubble of 1180 as a chapel dependent on the Abbey of Aulps. Considered recent in 1205, it was regularly cited in the 13th century for its religious role between the Lower Thex and the upper valley. In 1310, its links with the abbey were formalized by statutes, reinforcing its importance for the cure and the monastery. It has the status of a church and becomes the centre of an archpried at the end of the 16th century.
The building was destroyed by fire on the night of 11-12 March 1823. The inhabitants, opposed to the transfer of the religious center to the Abbey of Notre-Dame, obtained its reconstruction on site despite the mountainous risks, with the support of the authorities of Turin (the Chablais belonging then to the Kingdom of Sardinia). Consecrated in 1834, it fell into ruins as early as 1860 and was banned from access in 1866.
A new neo-Gothic church, designed by architect Ruphy, was erected between 1883 and 1885. Consecrated on 23 June 1886, it was restored by the inhabitants of La Moussière, owners of the premises. Its history illustrates the local attachment to this place of worship, marked by successive reconstructions and community management.
