Chapelle Saint-Jacques
Origin of the name Chapelle Saint-Jacques
The chapel owes its name to its dedication to Saint James. The church of Vandœuvres remained under the patronage of Saint James until the adoption of the Reformation in 1536, and the present temple is the former church of Saint-Jacques.[2][3]
Founding of Chapelle Saint-Jacques
The place of worship grew up beside a Gallo-Roman villa inhabited from the 1st to the 4th century, in what is now the municipality of Vandœuvres. In the 4th century a religious building, a pagan oratory or a Christian chapel, stood behind the villa. In the 5th century a funerary chapel dedicated to Saint James was built against the villa, and the first church was built at the beginning of the century beside the older building, surrounded by a baptistery and outbuildings. It is not known who founded it. The church of Saint-Jacques, which became a Protestant temple at the Reformation, has kept its Gothic character. Archaeological excavations were carried out there before its restoration of 1988-1989.[1][2][3]
History of Chapelle Saint-Jacques
Mid-1st century. Construction of the Gallo-Roman villa of Vandœuvres, against which the chapel would later be built.[2]
4th century. A religious building, a pagan oratory or a Christian chapel, stands behind the villa.[2]
5th century. A funerary chapel dedicated to Saint James is built against the villa. The first church, built at the beginning of the century, is surrounded by a baptistery and outbuildings.[1][2]
1536. The church, under the patronage of Saint James until the adoption of the Reformation, becomes a Protestant temple.[2][3]
1684. The bell tower is raised.[3]
1730. The nave is partly rebuilt, the vault removed and the roof restored.[3]
1835. Four stained-glass windows from Muri are given to the temple, probably for the jubilee of the Reformation.[3][4]
1915-1919. Restoration: the nave vault is restored, a vestry is built against the bell-tower porch and the pulpit is moved.[3]
1988-1989. Archaeological excavations precede the last restoration, carried out by the architect Jacques Choisy.[3]
Historic sites in Chapelle Saint-Jacques
Temple of Vandœuvres. Former church of Saint-Jacques, which became a Protestant temple at the Reformation. It has kept its Gothic character despite many restorations.[3]
Remains in Chapelle Saint-Jacques
Gallo-Roman villa of Vandœuvres. Villa built around the middle of the 1st century and inhabited until the 4th century, known from two excavation campaigns, one during the restoration of the temple and the other during the redevelopment of the village square. The 5th-century funerary chapel was built against it.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vandœuvres » (Hansjörg Roth), version remaniée le 27.12.2014
- Commune de Vandœuvres, « La villa romaine de Vandœuvres »
- Église protestante de Genève, paroisse Cologny-Vandoeuvres-Choulex, « Temple de Vandoeuvres »
- Vitrosearch, vitraux du temple de Vandoeuvres
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Vandoeuvres, coordonnées approchées)
Other villages near Chapelle Saint-Jacques
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