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Pons-en-Royans (Isère)

The Reformation was present in the Dauphiné region from the 16th century. Pierre de Sibiville, a correspondent of Zwingli, was already preaching there in 1523.

Grenoble became a safe place for the Protestants (1561)

Numerous small churches were built, similar in style to the one in Pons-en-Royans.

A very simple architecture

It was of a typically “popular ” style, based on the pattern of a barn.

The building was rectangular, lighted by arched windows and followed the natural slope of the ground. There was a smaller door beside the main portal.

The temple was demolished in the 17th century ; it is known only from surviving documents.

Bibliography

Books
- DUBIEF Henri et POUJOL Jacques, La France protestante, Histoire et Lieux de mémoire, Max Chaleil éditeur, Montpellier, 1992, rééd. 2006, p. 450
- LAURENT René, Promenade à travers les temples de France, Les Presses du Languedoc, Millau, 1996, p. 520
- REYMOND Bernard, L’architecture religieuse des protestants, Labor et Fides, Genève, 1996
Articles
- GUICHARNAUD Hélène, "Approche de l’architecture des Temples protestants construits en France avant la Révocation", Études théologiques et Religieuses, Institut Protestant de Théologie, Montpellier, 2000, Tome 75

Associated notes

Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)

Zwingli, a pastor and theologian, based the Reformation on Bible study. In his opinion the Reformation comprised fighting social injustice.

Les places de sûreté protestantes avant 1598

Protestant “places of safety”

The “places of safety”, strongholds in the hands of governors and granted to the Reformed, met religious and military requirements.