Église Saint-Joseph de Vieux-Habitants

About

Saint Joseph's church in Vieux-Habitants is a Catholic church in Vieux-Habitants, France.

History: The church is, with the church Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel de Basse-Terre, the oldest in Guadeloupe. Father Raymond Breton reported in 1636 that the inhabitants had established a frame chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph. Already considered too narrow in 1688, it was burned on 20 March 1703 by the English troops. Between that date and 1721, the Capuchins rebuilt it in stone. Their emblem is placed by them above the pediment of the characteristic portal of the eighteenth century. Various restoration, reconstruction and expansion campaigns were undertaken during the 19th century. Pierre Isnard to lengthen the nave, destroyed the original choir in 1951 and added a transept linking the bell tower, previously isolated, to the rest of the church. The tower of the cross is later equipped with four bells. The building was listed as historic monuments in 2006 and classified in 2007.

Related articles: List of historical monuments of Guadeloupe