Saint-Augustin Church (Paris)

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Saint-Augustin Church

Saint Augustin’s Church is a church in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was built between 1860 and 1871, in the area of Paris known as “Little Poland”, on the Rue de la Pepiniere, close to St Lazare metro station. During the Second Empire, this area was undergoing considerable building work and demographic movement.
The Prefect of Paris, Baron Haussmann was resposible for much of the design of the layout of Paris's rectilinear avenues, which called for prestigious edifices.

Base of a iron column

Built by Victor Baltard (architect of Les Halles), this church is renowned more for its structure than its style, inspired by Roman and Byzantine architecture. It is the first example of the extensive use of a metal framework. Saint-Augustin is 100 metres in length, with the dome reaching up to a height of 80 metres.

The four evangelists decorate the façade above the arcade and below the rose-window are the 12 apostles. Inside, the iron columns that support the vaulted ceiling and the dome are decorated with multi-coloured angels. The stained-glass windows of the nave feature 1st century Christian bishops and martyrs.

[edit] Great organs

There are three 54-key manual keyboards and pedalboards. The great organs of this magnificent building are the work of Charles Barker, celebrated in the world of organ building for his invention of the ”Barker machine”. Organs built by Barker were the first to be powered by electricity.