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Origin and history

The seminary of the Holy Spirit, located 28-30 rue Lhomond in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, is the mother house of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, founded in 1703 by Claude Poullart des Places. The community settled in 1732 in buildings designed by architect René Baudoin on the present Lhomond Street (then Rue des Postes). This place became a training centre for mission priests destined for the French colonies from 1777. The chapel, built between 1778 and 1782 by Le Camus de Mézières then Chalgrin, is decorated with a bas-relief by François Duret representing preaching and baptism by missionaries, with 26 characters.

The seminary was closed in 1792 during the Revolution, and its buildings were sold in 1796. They successively house a paper factory (1796) and the École Normale Supérieure (from 1813). The congregation returned in 1822 and restored the mother house, now supplemented by a generalist in Rome. Inside the chapel, decorated between 1876 and 1878, includes stalls from Notre-Dame du Gard Abbey. The large 18th-century building retains original elements, such as a massive structure and a wrought iron staircase.

The architecture of the site, marked by the work of Chalgrin (facade of the chapel and building on street), reflects its historical and religious importance. The congregation, revitalized in the 19th century by François Libermann, extended its missionary work in some 60 countries, particularly in Africa. The facades on street and garden have been listed as historical monuments since 1928, highlighting the heritage value of this Parisian ensemble.

The chapel and its interior decorations, as well as the bas-relief of Duret, bear witness to 18th century religious art. The seminar also embodies the evolution of the Spiritans, from a French community to an international network of missionaries. Today, 30 rue Lhomond remains a historic place, linked to both the Parisian architectural heritage and the spiritual heritage of the congregation.

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