Sunday Churches : Saint Augustin

Saint Augustin is relatively new as Parisian churches go, dating from the middle of the 19th century, and fairly heavily decorated.

I’ve long been fascinated by these little plaques. While they can be found in most Parisian churches, they’re far more common in some than in others. Most of them date from the first half of the 20th century, though the bright white one in the photo on the left dates from last year. They’re typically dedicated to a saint, contain some expression of gratitude, a date, and initials. The center plaque here reads :
To the blessed Sister Therese | A grateful heart | A B

Saint Augustin presides over the congregation with inkwell and book.

Memorials to the young (and not so young) men from the parish who lost their lives in the trenches of WWI are a common sight in French churches. The list here is long enough for them to have split over 4 plaques. The smaller middle plaques list the deaths in WWII. It’s hard to wrap my mind around just how deadly WWI was for France. Comparing the size of these lists helps.

The church is both narrow and tall, with stained glass windows up on a third level above the clerestory.

The main organ in the back of the church is surmounted by a rose window. Note the cast iron columns supporting the walls and ceiling of the sanctuary.

Getting there : 46 boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 Paris
Métros : Saint Augustin, Line 9; Saint Lazare, Lines 3, 12, 13, 14