Église Sainte-Rita de Paris, Gothic Revival church in 15th arrondissement of Paris, France
Église Sainte-Rita de Paris is a Neo-Gothic church at 27 rue François-Bonvin in the 15th arrondissement, built in 1900 by architects Paul Gravereaux and Théodore Judlin. It has a single nave and a wrought-iron grille protecting a shrine with a wax recumbent figure of Saint Rita. The church was converted into a climbing gym in March 2024.
The church was founded in 1900 and operated as an independent Gallican Catholic place of worship starting in 1987. It remained active until 2015 when the religious community ceased operations.
Under Archbishop Dominique Philippe of the Gallican Church of Gazinet, the church became known for ceremonies in the Tridentine rite: a Mass for motorcyclists, a ceremony in memory of Michael Jackson, and an annual blessing of animals including dogs, cats, donkeys and camels. The traditionalist Catholics who occupied the building from 2015 also celebrated in the Tridentine rite.
The church stands at 27 rue François-Bonvin, in the northern part of the 15th arrondissement; the nearest metro stations are Sèvres-Lecourbe and Volontaires. The building is not open as a place of worship, so it is seen from the street. Its doors and the sacristy were walled up in April 2015.
The wrought-iron grille protecting Saint Rita's shrine, which holds a wax recumbent figure of the saint, came from the chapel of the convent of the Sisters of Sens. The church also keeps a skullcap and a handwritten letter of Pope Pius X.
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