Morning prayers and services
In addition to the daily morning prayer in the Dominican monastery church (Église des Dominicains), we hold a Protestant communion service, during which we also remembered our departed members, at St Thomas’s Church (Église Saint-Thomas) and a Catholic service of the Word of God takes at the Église du Christ Ressuscité.
Hymn Festival
Congregational singing has been a spiritual resource since ancient times. During our conference, the Hymn festival offers an excellent opportunity to gain insights into our hymn literature. In selecting the songs, we focus on multilingualism and the diversity of denominations. It expresses what unites us in faith, from the Middle Ages to the present day. The Hymn festival approaches the practice of hymns with spirit and understanding: we briefly introduce the hymns and the sources used and then sing them together in the congregation. The 2026 Hymn Festival was held under the theme ‘Singing for Peace’. It was prepared and led by Elsabé Kloppers, Martin Hoondert and Elie Jolliet and took place at Église Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune.
Organ Recital
The principal organist at Temple Neuf, Sayaka Hayano, gave us a one-hour organ recital on the Merklin organ, built in 1877. The evening programme can be downloaded here.
Discussion about a possible COST Action
Open discussion session for anyone interested in a potential COST Action in the field of hymnology. COST is an intergovernmental funding initiative aimed at fostering research collaboration across Europe and beyond. Moderated by Martin Hoondert.
Metrical Psalms in the English Tradition (Workshop with phil Price)
English hymnody really could be said to have begun in Strasbourg, when Protestant exiles encountered congregational metrical psalms. This approach, deepened through experiences in Geneva, meant that early English hymnody followed the course of metrical scriptural paraphrase, rather than the freely composed hymn. Over the following two centuries the form evolved, and from the time of Isaac Watts involved increasingly Christianised paraphrases, until eventually hymns proper took over. A few metrical psalms live on. In this workshop there will be the opportunity to sing together a number of metrical psalms from the earliest times, through to one which has survived, and may well be encountered by any visitor to a wedding or funeral in England today.
Guided tour and exhibition at the Médiathèque protestante
With the opening of the exhibition on psalters curated by Beat Föllmi.
IAH General assembly
All members and guests are welcome!