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Origin and history

The Saint-Pierre church, located at the corner of the Seine wharf and Rue de l'Eglise on Île-Saint-Denis, is a religious building dedicated to Catholic worship. Its history is marked by the geographical isolation of the island, whose inhabitants had no parish or place of worship before the seventeenth century, despite their repeated demands. It was only in 1620, after the permission of the Cardinal of Retz, that a first chapel was built, dedicated to St Sebastian and also serving as shelter during the floods.

Before 1830, the early church, already repaired in 1817, was considered too small. A reconstruction was decided, and a new church, built in 1832 by architect Auguste Guenepin, quickly proved insufficient. In 1855, the old church was destroyed, and its last tombs transferred to the local cemetery, the court being levelled. The last burial on site was on December 20, 1847.

In 1859, the need for a new building was felt. The present Roman-style church was built and inaugurated on 14 September 1884. Its evolution reflects the population growth and spiritual needs of the island, marked by successive reconstructions to adapt to the community.

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