Saint Michel

des Batignolles

12 bis, rue Saint-Jean, 75017 Paris

On October 16, 1858, Emperor Napoleon III authorized the opening of a "branch" of the parish of Batignolles-Monceau, whose church was then Ste Marie de Batignolles. The first stone was laid on 19 November 1913 by Mgr Chesnelong, archbishop of Sens. But the 1914-1918 war suspended construction. The church was blessed by Cardinal Dubois on September 21, 1925, when the work was not completed. It was not until 1932 that the erection of the bell tower resumed. The Art Deco-style church is listed as a historical monument by decree of June 29, 2016. Due to its construction period, it also enjoys the label "Heritage of the 20the century"..

E3 The organ of St. Michael's Church was built by the Austrian firm Rieger in 1923. It was originally installed in the lounges of the Majestic Hotel in Paris. In 1936, the hotel became the property of the state, which housed the Ministry of War there. The organ was then dismantled and bought by the parish of Saint-Michel. Victor Gonzalez transferred the organ from the hotel to the church (in 1942?) and made the facade in copper, which is totally soundless. In 1975, Gutschenritter worked on the instrument and took the opportunity to replace the pneumatic traction in electro-pneumatic traction. He also replaced all the reeds (and changed the style from German to French). This instrument is almost unique in France in its style that combines the salon organ with the cinema organ. In 2013, an electronic combinator was installed during maintenance works by Marc Hédelin. In 2023, a new transmission system was installed by Marc Hédelin. Source With many thanks to Bernard Dargassies for some additional information.