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Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church

Religious building, Historic site and monument in Rivière-Salée
  • This church, with its unique bell tower pierced by claustras, shows the most recent aspect of a building undergoing recurrent reconstruction.

  • In 1715, the inhabitants complained to the Sovereign Council of Martinique that they had to go to Cul-de-Sac-à-Vaches or Trou-au-Chat to hear Mass. In 1716, the new parish was placed under the protection of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and entrusted to the Capuchins. However, for lack of a priest, the parish was served by the parish priest of Trois-Ilets or of Trou-au-Chat. In 1758, part of its territory was amputated by the creation of the parish of Saint-Esprit des Coulisses.

    In the 18th century,...
    In 1715, the inhabitants complained to the Sovereign Council of Martinique that they had to go to Cul-de-Sac-à-Vaches or Trou-au-Chat to hear Mass. In 1716, the new parish was placed under the protection of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and entrusted to the Capuchins. However, for lack of a priest, the parish was served by the parish priest of Trois-Ilets or of Trou-au-Chat. In 1758, part of its territory was amputated by the creation of the parish of Saint-Esprit des Coulisses.

    In the 18th century, the village was very modest and the church very old. In 1787, an apostolic prefect noted that the building was poorly maintained, that there were no books, no linen in working order, and almost no ornaments.

    It was not until the middle of the 19th century that worship was properly restored. After the Second World War, the church was welcoming, with its holy water font and marble altar, but too small to welcome the parishioners. The architect Marcel Salasc was in charge of the project and rebuilt it in a modernist spirit in reinforced concrete with a bell tower with geometric lines and open concrete transoms to refresh the building.

    In 2007, the church suffered enormous damage caused by Hurricane Dean and the earthquake: three years of work were necessary to complete its restoration. On January 28th, 2011, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church was inaugurated with its new facade.
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