Protestant Church of Chamonix

You might wonder: what’s an Anglican church doing in the middle of Chamonix? With its pointed slate roof and typically English style, it definitely stands out. But actually, it’s not that surprising. Most people know the British community is very present in the region — and in fact, they’ve been part of local life for a very long time. In 1741, British explorers William Windham and Richard Pococke set off on an expedition to the Chamonix valley. Besides giving its name to the famous Mer de Glace, their account sparked enormous interest across Europe and attracted crowds of travelers. In the 19th century, the British were the valley’s first international visitors. And since they were Anglican, not Catholic, they needed a specific place to practice their faith. At first, hotel owners would open their dining rooms on Sundays to let them hold their services. But that wasn’t enough. In 1855, the Ecclesiastical Society of London bought a piece of land in Chamonix and obtained permission to build an Anglican chapel there. Later, they were also granted the right to have their own cemetery to bury their dead, since Protestants weren’t allowed in the Catholic cemetery. About twenty British mountaineers are buried there. After World War I, fewer and fewer English visitors came to Chamonix, and the chapel was handed over to the Reformed Church of France. But today, with many Brits once again in the valley, it’s still seen as their chapel — thanks to the deep, long-standing connection they feel to this place.”