The Protestant Church of Geneva and its Community Life
The Fusterie temple belongs to the Protestant Church of Geneva.
As the inheritor of the Reformation movement, the Protestant Church has been present in the city for several centuries and has contributed to shaping its identity. It represents the Protestant community of the canton, which counts around 45,000 members.
Constantly evolving, the church accompanies social changes while fulfilling its original mission of providing access to the Word of God and bearing witness to it in various ways, including:
- Supporting individuals through different stages of life, in moments of joy and difficulty, via worship, meetings, prayer, and celebrations (baptisms, marriages, funerals), and assisting those in search of meaning.
- Supporting vulnerable individuals, for example in nursing homes, hospitals, or prisons.
- Teaching catechism and awakening the youth to faith.
- Developing new forms of spiritual testimony.
- Offering humanitarian and social assistance through Protestant relief efforts and support for the most deprived.
Availability and open-mindedness towards everyone are a core aspect of the Protestant Church’s identity.
Today, it mobilizes nearly 50 men and women – pastors, deacons, and ministry workers – daily across about forty parishes, chaplaincies and ministries throughout the canton. It also relies on the dedication of approximately 500 volunteers.
The Protestant Church of Geneva offers its support and assistance free of charge to the entire population, without distinction of ethnic or denominational affiliation. It receives no government subsidies for its worship mission.
The history of the Fusterie temple illustrates the diversity of the Protestant Church’s commitments. Alongside its religious vocation, the temple has fulfilled various social and administrative functions in the city. In 1871, after the capture of the city of Paris by the Germans and the fall of Napoleon III, it housed about 500 French soldiers from General Bourbaki's army for about a month. During the 1901 municipal elections, the temple was used for vote counting. In 1907, it also hosted the Peace Day celebrations. More recently, it hosted youth activities during the summer holidays, and in 2019 and 2020, it served as an overnight shelter for homeless people.
During the construction works, the “Petit Espace Fusterie,” located in a dark blue construction pavilion behind the temple, maintains a presence and offers cultural and spiritual activities at certain times of the week. Feel free to stop by for a coffee, a chat or to participate in one of our activities!
To find us, please follow the signpost.