In the old centre of Paris, hidden in a dead-end street, is Chapelle de Nesle. During the week it is a theatre, but on Sundays it is a chapel. There, Rev Samuel Foucachon leads a congregation with his colleague Gethin Jones. During a working visit to Paris, deputy Ellen Hartog and missionary consultant Willem van 't Spijker visited this congregation, which literally follows in Calvin's footsteps, on behalf of deputies.
Old tradition
The district where the congregation meets is in what today is called Quartier Latin. It is where Calvin lived and studied until 1533. In 1533, Calvin fled Paris with his friend Nicolas Cop. Cop had delivered a speech at the university La Sorbonne, co-authored by Calvin, the content of which corresponded to what Luther had begun to teach in Germany.
The flight of Cop and Calvin did not mark the end of the Reformed movement in that city. Some years later, one of the streets in the neighbourhood just outside the old city walls was called 'La petite Genève' because so many Reformed people lived there.
In 1555, there was the first Reformed church in Paris, and four years later, in 1559, the first synod took place there where 75 Reformed churches were present. They drew up a creed, which became known as the La Rochelle Creed. Now, for 10 years, a Reformed church has been meeting again in this old centre of Paris. The congregation is small but very vital and attracts young people in particular.
Special stories
During the visit, we meet Kevin. He grew up in a Christian family, but his parents were not very active in the church. Kevin started looking for the church's ancient roots later in life and came across Luther and Calvin. As he read works by them, things fell into place. He searched until he found a church where their ideas were lived. That is how he came into contact with Samuel Foucachon.
At Chapelle de Nesle, Kevin also met his wife Karen, who had grown up with the faith in Madagascar. When she went to study in Paris, she wanted a church where her faith would be nurtured. She too eventually ended up in Chapelle de Nesle, and so in addition to support for her faith, she also found her husband there.
One particular story is that of Leo, the technician from the theatre where the church meets. After a period of great enmity towards God, he got stuck. He decided to take a chance on faith.
He immersed himself more and more in faith and decided to ask God for a series of signs so that he would know: God sees me and loves me. During a holiday in the Pyrenees, he received the requested signs and knew: God sees me and I am going to follow Him! But, did they want to receive him in the church? He asked God for one more sign: give, that they call me from the church. That happened. Rev Samuel had forgotten a connection cable for the projector one Sunday. Leo was asked: can you help with a cable? When that happened, Leo continued to go through the whole service. And from now on, every Sunday, as he joined the congregation.
