Saint-Guillaume Church Strasbourg Hosts Shows to Fund Restoration

The Saint-Guillaume protestant church in Strasbourg is diversifying its programming to include cinema, yoga, and live performances as a means of funding the maintenance and renovation of the historic building.

The inclusive church has transitioned into a cultural venue, hosting a variety of events designed to attract diverse audiences and generate necessary revenue for the upkeep of the site.

Cultural Programming for 2025-2026

For the 2025/2026 season, the church has introduced a broad cultural calendar that blends spiritual space with contemporary entertainment. This programming includes drag shows, lyric concerts, and circus arts.

Cyril Pallaud, president of the Passions Croisées association, stated that the goal is to cross the arts and break down barriers between audiences by combining different disciplines, such as opera and circus, to engage a wider demographic.

Wellness activities have also been integrated into the venue’s offerings. Yoga sessions began on September 2, 2025, as a weekly appointment held at 10 a.m. These classes are conducted by Lise Paquet, a certified professor with Yoga Alliance International.

The yoga sessions take place in the Grand Salon Schweitzer, a 60-square-meter space featuring six-meter ceilings and a massive floor. This room is situated above the 15th-century building and is illuminated by the church’s oldest stained-glass window.

LGBTQIA+ Exhibitions and Vandalism

As part of its inclusive mission, the church hosted an exhibition titled Ils s’aiment. The exhibition featured photography documenting the history and resistance of LGBTQIA+ couples.

On February 1, 2026, the church reported that the exhibition had been targeted by an act of vandalism. A photograph depicting two young men holding a sign that read not married but willing to be was defaced with a black marker.

The vandal wrote Leviticus 18:22, a biblical reference, across the image. The damage was discovered around 6 p.m. By Cyril Pallaud during the closing of the church.

Pastor Daniel Boessenbacher filed a formal complaint following the incident. Boessenbacher stated that hiding behind a biblical verse to justify homophobia is unacceptable and punishable by law, asserting that having an opinion does not justify the spread of hatred or the act of vandalizing property.

Historical and Institutional Context

The Saint-Guillaume church has a long history in Strasbourg, with records indicating that a group of Guillemites, who were mendicant monks, were present at the site before 1298.

By transforming the space into a venue for cinema and performing arts, the parish aims to ensure the survival of the structure through sustainable funding. The integration of these activities allows the church to maintain its architectural heritage while remaining an active part of the city’s cultural landscape.