In 1877, the municipality of Paris decided to sell two plots of land located at 18 Boulevard Ornano in the 18th arrondissement. Together, these plots covered a total area of 1,880 m² and were priced at 30,000 francs. A year later, the parish acquired an additional 200 m² plot, intended for the construction of housing for the pastor and teachers. Two years after that, another 120 m² plot was purchased to provide access to the housing.
The church was designed by French architect C.H. Toiler, while its facade was later enhanced by one of Sweden’s renowned architects of the time, F.V. Scholander. The first stone was laid in March 1878, and on Sunday, November 3, 1878, the Swedish parish—after 200 years of existence—finally consecrated its own church in Paris. Named in honor of Queen Sofia, the inauguration was attended by her son, Gustave (later King Gustave V). Rectangular in shape, the church was constructed from sandstone, with a cross-shaped nave accommodating 200 seats.
Despite its elegant design, the location of the church proved controversial in the years to come. Pastor Flygare quickly became aware of the criticism and attempted to justify the site selection. He highlighted the proximity of new tram lines and a nearby station on the Petite Ceinture, a single radial railway line. According to him, this area represented the future of urban development in Paris. Additionally, the relatively low rents in the neighborhood would allow a community to grow around the church. From his perspective, there was no better location.
But where exactly was the first Swedish Church in Paris located? While the original church was later demolished, it is certain that it was built on Boulevard Ornano. Research, however, indicates that building numbers on the boulevard were rearranged over time. It is unlikely that the church stood at number 22, as previously suggested. The buildings at numbers 18, 20, and 22 appear to have been constructed simultaneously, and an inscription at number 22 confirms its completion in 1882.
According to Promenades dans toutes les rues de Paris by the Marquis de Rochegude, a Scandinavian chapel once stood at 18 Boulevard Ornano. In 1907, the Swedish government reportedly sold the property to the Maggi dairy company, which replaced the chapel with a boilermaking workshop and erected the large building still present on the site today.
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