Evangelical Free Church in Nîmes, France, Celebrates 150 Years

The Protestant community in Nîmes that meets at the temple on rue du Fort is marking 150 years since it began using the building. Pastor Christian Huy and the congregation have planned two days of events on Saturday, 21 November, and Sunday, 22 November 2015.

The programme includes a historical exhibition, a Gospel recital and a conference given by two pastors. The temple is located between Boulevard Gambetta and Boulevard Vauban, and the source says the church has been established there since 1865.

According to the source, the community’s history goes back to the 1820s and is linked to the Moravian Brothers, a Protestant group now associated with the Czech Republic. Pastor Huy describes the church as not a cult but a reflection of the Bible.

The source says the congregation acquired a building on the rue du Fort in 1865. It had previously been used for animals, and the source reports that it was converted into a temple with stained-glass windows in about five months, with the work completed by the end of 1865. The source also notes that the interior was later divided into two levels, though it does not give a clear date for that change.

Membership has changed over time. The source quotes a figure of about 300 members in the 19th century and says the present congregation draws some people from other regions, but it does not give a current membership figure. Pastor Huy said the church uses modern language in its services, which he says is understood by teenagers. He also said the congregation regards the Gospels as historical fact and not only as parables.

Source: Read the original report (translated from French)