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Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Thomas church of Vaulx-en-Velin is a Catholic religious building built at the beginning of the 21st century in the metropolis of Lyon. Consecrated in 2012, it marks the first realization of a church in the Lyon Archdiocese in forty years, responding to a growing need for the local community, especially from various cultural backgrounds (tmol, Chaldean, African, etc.). Its modern architecture, signed by Siz'-Ix agency, incorporates innovations such as the "glass walls" designed by Xavier Noiret-Thome.

The construction of the church is part of an urban and religious renewal for Vaulx-en-Velin, a commune whose population increased sharply in the 20th century. The old chapel, which had become old, was no longer enough to welcome the faithful. The project, financed entirely by donations (4 million euros), was symbolically launched by the laying of the first stone on 30 April 2010. Apostle Thomas, patron saint of the church, was chosen for his connection to the evangelization of the Far East, reflecting the diversity of local Christian communities.

Inaugurated on 2 December 2012 by Cardinal Barbarin, the church can accommodate 450 people and is distinguished by its ecumenical and intercultural vocation. The signing ceremony brought together political representatives (Mayor PCF Bernard Genin, MP PS Hélène Geoffroy, president of the metropolis Gérard Collomb) as well as Jewish, Protestant and Muslim religious dignitaries, highlighting his unifying role in the Lyon region. Today, it is home to both the Latin Catholic cult and the Chaldean rite, a rare feature in France.

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