Saint-Éloi, Modern church in 12th arrondissement, France.
Saint-Éloi is a modern church in the 12th arrondissement featuring a distinctive aluminum-clad exterior with a metal frame structure rising approximately 35 meters above the Parisian roofline. The interior contains a balcony that overlooks the main assembly space, with natural light filtering through sandblasted glass panels toward the elevated altar platform.
The first church on Rue de Reuilly was built in 1856 for a working-class, artisanal quarter; this small Romanesque building was destroyed in 1876, either after serving as a prison during the Commune or after a lightning strike. A temporary church followed four years later and stood for nearly ninety years. Construction of the present church began in 1966, and Cardinal François Marty consecrated it on 27 October 1968.
The dedication to Saint Eligius, patron of goldsmiths and metalworkers, is echoed in the all-metal building. Inside, a large statue of the saint by goldsmith Jean Puiforcat, made for the 1937 Exposition universelle, shows him holding a planishing hammer and a cup. The lead crucifix was made by students of the nearby École Boulle.
The trapezoid-shaped building with its expansive aluminum facade is easy to spot and clearly visible within the neighborhood. The interior layout is straightforward, with the elevated altar and balcony areas immediately apparent to visitors.
The organ, built by the Schwenkedel firm in 1970, reuses elements of a Mutin-Cavaillé-Coll instrument recovered from the previous church. A balcony reached by steps under the entrance lets listeners follow services or the many concerts while looking down over the whole assembly.
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