St. Peter's Anglican Church Château-d'Oex · Serving the English-speaking Community Since 1899

History of English Churches in Switzerland – Lausanne

Christ Church, Lausanne — the Anglican church of 1878 by G. E. Street
Christ Church, Lausanne, opened on 4 July 1878 to plans by George Edmund Street.

History of Christ Church, Lausanne

The first Anglican service in Lausanne was held on 10 November 1816, in the Chapelle de la Mercerie, and the first constitution of the English Church was drawn up on 15 July 1818. Services were held at the Chapelle de la Mercerie and then in the newly constructed church at Croix d’Ouchy. Christ Church was designed by George Edmund Street, the distinguished Gothic Revival architect later responsible for the Royal Courts of Justice in London, though the work was carried out under the supervision of a Swiss architect, Edouard van Muyden, who modified Street’s design slightly. The first stone was laid on 19th June 1877. The building work was rapidly completed and the first service was held on 4th July 1878. The church was consecrated nine years later, on 6th June 1887, once the debt had been paid off. Between October 1882 and May 1883 two grandsons of Queen Victoria — the future King George V and his elder brother Prince Albert Victor — were in Lausanne to learn French, and attended services at Christ Church. In 1898 the church was enlarged by the addition of the south aisle and the south transept, with a heating chamber below; heating was installed at the same time, and the surrounding walls, iron railings and gates were completed in 1899. Christ Church is the largest Anglican church in Switzerland. A magnificent collection of stained glass windows designed and built in London by the firm Clayton and Bell were brought to Lausanne and installed by the local Swiss Architect. The windows are a perfect example of the « gothic revival » movement.

Christ Church, Lausanne, on a postcard of 1903
Christ Church on a card published by Jullien frères of Geneva (J.J. 2516) for the Librairie A. Duvoisin, Lausanne, and posted from Lausanne on 14 October 1903 — twenty-five years after the church opened, and five years after the south aisle was added.

Date of first Chaplaincy: 1816

Church dates: 1878 to present day

Patron: Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG)

Hotel: Unknown

Current Status: Open with regular services

Sources
Anglican Worship in Lausanne, Rosemary Raedler-Hacking

Further Reading
Anglican Worship in Lausanne, Rosemary Raedler-Hacking

Christ Church, Lausanne, History

Questions answered

When did Anglican worship begin in Lausanne?
The first Anglican service in Lausanne was held on 10 November 1816, in the Chapelle de la Mercerie. The first constitution of the English Church was drawn up on 15 July 1818.
Who designed Christ Church, Lausanne?
George Edmund Street, the distinguished Gothic Revival architect later responsible for the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The work was carried out under the supervision of a Swiss architect, Edouard van Muyden, who modified Street’s design slightly.
When was Christ Church, Lausanne consecrated?
The first stone was laid on 19 June 1877 and the first service was held on 4 July 1878. The church was consecrated nine years later, on 6 June 1887, once the debt had been paid off.
Did any members of the British royal family worship at Christ Church, Lausanne?
Yes. Between October 1882 and May 1883 two grandsons of Queen Victoria — the future King George V and his elder brother Prince Albert Victor — were in Lausanne to learn French, and attended services at Christ Church.