Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus
ChurchHidden Treasure
Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus, located in Rennes (Département 35), is a modern edifice built in the 19th-20th centuries. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Modern (19th-20th century)
- Location
- Rennes, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.0952, -1.6674
- Mérimée Reference
- PA35000071
Joyau Art Déco du Rennes des années 1930, l'église Sainte-Thérèse incarne l'essor d'un quartier populaire et la ferveur pour la petite sainte de Lisieux, canonisée à peine dix ans avant sa construction.
History
Standing in the heart of the south station district, the church of Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus is one of the most significant architectural testimonies to 20th-century Rennes. Designed by Rennes architect Hyacinthe Perrin, this neighbourhood church goes far beyond its initial liturgical role to embody a whole urban and social history, that of a farming suburb transformed into a dense residential area over the decades. What makes this monument so unique is precisely the way in which its architectural ambitions and community roots are linked. The building was never designed in isolation: it was part of a vast parish complex that included a boarding school, a school and an oratory, run by the Ploërmel brothers. This coherent programme, rare for a church of this era, gives it its own identity, halfway between a religious monument and a local social facility. The experience of visiting the church is one of discovery for those who take the time to observe the details. The façade and interior volumes reveal the influences of the inter-war period, when French religious architecture sought to combine Christian tradition and formal modernity. The sober lines, the mastery of volumes and the quality of the plastic treatment bear witness to the expertise of an architect trained in the most demanding Parisian workshops. The urban setting also contributes to the interest of the site. Located just a few hundred metres from Rennes station, the Sainte-Thérèse district has retained a village-in-the-city feel, with its quiet streets, local shops and a population faithful to its working-class and Catholic roots. The church is an essential landmark, visible from the streets that converge on this part of Rennes, which for a long time remained on the fringes of the great Haussmann building projects.
Architecture
The church of Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus was part of the trend in religious architecture between the wars, which sought to renew the language of the church by relying on simplified forms, powerful volumes and controlled ornamentation. Hyacinthe Perrin, trained in the French classical school but sensitive to the developments of his time, offers here a synthesis characteristic of this architectural moment: references to the Gothic or Romanesque tradition are reinterpreted through a resolutely modern prism, with a preference for clean lines and clearly legible architectural masses. The facade of the building has an orderly composition, with the bell tower or campanile interacting with the main nave in a carefully considered balance. The interior features a generous nave, designed to accommodate a large parish community, with rhythmic bays and lighting designed to create an atmosphere conducive to contemplation. The materials used - regional cut stone, brick or concrete, depending on the construction choices of the period - are in keeping with local building practices, while also reflecting the technical innovations of the 1920s and 1930s. The parish complex to which the church belongs - boarding school, school, oratory - contributes to the overall architectural interpretation of the site. The volumetric and stylistic coherence between the different buildings reveals the mastery of an architect capable of using a formal vocabulary at different scales and for different purposes, from liturgical space to school facilities.
Related Figures
Hyacinthe Perrin (1877-1965) — architecte rennais, concepteur de l'église, élève de Jules GradetJules Gradet — architecte formateur de Perrin, figure de l'architecture bretonne de la fin du XIXe siècleSainte Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus (1873-1897) — carmélite de Lisieux, canonisée en 1925, sainte patronne de l'édificeFrères de Ploërmel — congrégation enseignante fondée en 1819, gestionnaire du pensionnat et de l'école attenantsJean-Marie de La Mennais (1780-1860) — fondateur de la congrégation des frères de Ploërmel
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus located?
Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus is located in Rennes, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus built?
Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus dates back to a period built in the modern era (19th-20th century).
Is Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus open to visitors?
Église Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus is currently closed to visitors.
