Fusterie is the most modest of Geneva's temple buildings. Looking at this building, you would not immediately guess its purpose. However, in 1715 it became a real gift to the city, which could no longer accommodate in its former churches the Protestants who had taken refuge in Geneva from Catholic persecution. In 1687, up to 350 people a day were arriving in Geneva from France and Germany.
Former Catholic churches were not suitable for Protestant worship services. Their architecture was designed for listening to Gregorian chant and the sounds of the organ. In Protestant churches, more attention was paid to reading the catechism and to the pastor's word. Priests even began to lose their flock because parishioners stopped attending services due to indistinct sermons. The need to build a special church became urgent. The project was commissioned from the French Huguenot Jean Vennes.
According to the architect's plan, the new building was not supposed to distract parishioners from the word of God. It was decided to sacrifice external decoration in favor of good acoustics. Therefore, despite the Baroque period prevailing at that time, the church turned out строгим and ascetic. Nevertheless, this did not prevent it from becoming a favorite place for Protestants. For a long time it was designated simply as the "new" one, until it acquired the name Fusterie after the square on which it stands.
Today this church has already lost its former importance. But its acoustics serve art well: various musical performances are held here, from concerts to city festivals.
