Sacred Heart church, Catholic church in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Sacred Heart Church is a former Masonic temple in Geneva's Plainpalais district, built in the form of a Greek temple; experts have noted its resemblance to the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, Syria. Rebuilt after the 2018 fire and reopened at Easter 2024, it was redesigned by architect Christian Rivola with a liturgical layout by Jean-Marie Duthilleul: pews and chairs now face each other on both sides of the liturgical axis, and a light well runs from the roof down to the crypt, illuminating an olive tree.
Built in 1858–1859 by the Masonic lodge Alpina as the Temple Unique, the building was sold in 1868 and later housed a brasserie and Geneva's section of the International Workingmen's Association. In 1873 Cardinal Gaspard Mermillod negotiated its purchase after Saint-Germain was given to the Catholic Christian Church during the Kulturkampf; the first Catholic service was held on 19 October 1873. An arson fire destroyed much of it on 19 July 2018, and it reopened at Easter 2024.
Since 1958 the church has housed Geneva's Spanish-speaking Catholic community, which shares it with the French-speaking parish. The rebuilt interior places pews and chairs on both sides of the liturgical axis, and a light well runs from the roof down to the crypt, illuminating an olive tree. A restaurant, L'Olivier du Sacré-Coeur, opens onto Place Neuve.
The rebuilt building reopened at Easter 2024 and combines the church with offices, meeting rooms and a public restaurant, L'Olivier du Sacré-Coeur, on the Place Neuve side. The church is entered from Plainpalais; the new layout places pews and chairs on both sides of the liturgical axis, and a light well runs from the roof down to the crypt around an olive tree.
During the 2024 reconstruction, workers found a section of Geneva's old city fortifications in the basement, demolished during the Reformation. The building also has a light well running from the roof to the crypt, illuminating an olive tree. The Way of the Cross frescoes were restored.
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