Lyon is famous for its Fête des Lumières (festival of lights), celebrated for four days around 8 December, and seen by millions of visitors every year. It is also home to Trinity Church Lyon (TCL), an Anglican presence in the city since 1843.
The Fête des Lumières has its origins almost as long ago. A magnificent golden statue of Mary had been due to be inaugurated on 8 September 1852 (the feast day of St Mary). Because of flooding, the inauguration was postponed to 8 December. A huge celebration was planned but the weather still wasn’t great (a problem not unknown in recent times too!) and the fireworks were cancelled. By evening, seeing the weather had improved a bit, the Lyonnais put lamps and candles on windowsills to mark the occasion. The Fête des Lumières was born as a sign of solidarity and hope in difficult times.
Today in dark times, we remember that Christmas is when
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John 1:9.
That was the theme of the Christmas carol service TCL participated in on 8 December 2024, along with a few other congregations. The Fête des Lumières was celebrating its 25th year in its current form; the English-speaking carol service has probably been an annual highlight for longer than that. TCL has been actively involved for three years now. The Salvation Army is there with their brass band, and the EPUDF (Eglise Protestante Unie de France) hosts us in the beautiful Grand Temple, with its organ and great acoustics. And the ICCL (the other main English-speaking congregation here) always does an amazing job of planning and organising the event.
The choir includes several TCL folks. It is always a joy to take time out to rehearse classic carols and that joy never fails to communicate itself in the service where we welcome people from all over the city.
None of which is incompatible with crossing the Rhone to check out the amazing light shows, as witnessed by these photos taken by some of us after the main event(!). Let’s take a quick tour.
Now cross the Saône to the old town, where Cathédrale St Jean is always spectacularly illuminated and then back to rue de la République, the main shopping street.
Let’s finish with another view of the basilica, which dates from the Franco-Prussian war, when the archbishop vowed to build a new basilica if the city was spared. The foundation stone was laid in 1872. That’s why every 8 December, the faithful process from the cathedral up to the basilica, as well as placing candles (or tea lights) on their windowsills. You can read the full story here: Beginning of the festival of lights – Notre-Dame de Fourvière
We look forward to welcoming you to our annual celebration of the Light who came into the world (and to the Fête des Lumières)!
With thanks to our photographers: Craig, Julie, Kae, Li Jing and Lis.
And with huge thanks to our correspondent in Lyon, Shona Crease, as guest poster.
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