Église Saint-Polycarpe, Catholic church in the 1st arrondissement, Lyon, France

Église Saint-Polycarpe is a Roman Catholic church on the slopes of La Croix-Rousse in Lyon's 1st arrondissement, between rue René Leynaud, rue Burdeau and the Mermet and Thiaffait passages. Its pale stone facade, built in 1756 by Toussaint Loyer, has four Corinthian pilasters, a carved doorway pediment, a round clock and a triangular pediment above. The nave was lengthened by Loyer; the transept, dome and choir were added in 1826–1836 by François-Jacques Farfouillon.

The Oratorians began the church in 1665 and completed it in 1670, except for the facade, added in 1756 by architect Toussaint-Noël Loyer. On 19 June 1791 it became a parish church and took the name of Saint Polycarp. The transept, dome and choir were built from 1826 to 1836 by François-Jacques Farfouillon, and the church was classified as a monument historique on 20 October 1982.

The name Saint-Polycarpe, adopted on 19 June 1791 when the Oratory church became a parish church, honours Polycarp of Smyrna, teacher of Pothinus and Irenaeus, the first two bishops of Lyon. In the Saint-François-Xavier chapel rests the heart of Pauline-Marie Jaricot, founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The walnut organ case of 1842 is by Pierre Bossan.

The church is located at 25 rue René-Leynaud and remains active for regular worship services. It is open to visitors interested in architecture and history, though you may want to check beforehand when it is easiest to visit since services take priority.

The facade still bears a scar from 1793, when the Convention had cannon fire from Les Brotteaux aimed at the Croix-Rousse; the mark is visible on the right pilaster. The heart of Pauline-Marie Jaricot, founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, rests in the St-François-Xavier chapel.