Saint-Merri

Saint-Merri
Saint-Merri, north facade
Basic information
Location	76 Rue de la Verrerie, 4e
Geographic coordinates	48°51′32″N 2°21′04″E / 48.85889°N 2.35111°E / 48.85889; 2.35111Coordinates: 48°51′32″N 2°21′04″E / 48.85889°N 2.35111°E / 48.85889; 2.35111
Affiliation	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
State	France
Province	Archdiocese of Paris
Region	Île-de-France
Status	Active
Heritage designation	1983
Website	saintmerri.org//
Architectural description
Architectural type	Parish church
Architectural style	French gothic
Groundbreaking	1685 (1685)
Completed	1690 (1690)
Monument historique
Official name: Eglise Saint-Merri
Designated	1862
Reference no.	PA00086259
Denomination	Église

The Church of Saint-Merri (French: Église Saint-Merri) is a parish church in Paris, located along the busy street Rue Saint Martin, on the Rive Droite (Right Bank). It is dedicated to the 8th-century abbot of Autun Abbey, Medericus, who came to Paris on pilgrimage and later died there in the year 700. In 884 Medericus, in French also spelled Merry, was acclaimed patron saint of the Right Bank.

The present church was built between 1500 and 1550. The style is 16th-century Gothic, in the typical French style called flamboyant. The nave windows are work of the early 16th century, and the pulpit is by P. A. Slodtz and was made in 1753.

The organ was reconstructed in 1781 by Cliquot, a famous organ builder. It was played by Camille Saint-Saëns, who was organist of the church from 1853 to 1857. The bell tower contains the oldest bell in Paris, cast in 1331, which survived the French Revolution. In 1832, the church was an arena of ardent barricade fighting during a republican uprising against the July Monarchy.

The church continues as a place of worship today, and is home to the Halles-Beaubourg Pastoral Centre, being also the home to the Académie vocale de Paris, which performs concerts in the church every Saturday throughout the year.

The nave of the church, looking east

Interior of Saint-Merri

The west front of the church