SAINT-ANDRÉ CHURCH

The Saint-André church in Morne-à-l'Eau was built in 1930 by architect Ali Tur, to replace the previous building destroyed by the devastating cyclone of September 1928. Ali Tur was responsible for 120 buildings, including 5 other churches, during the reconstruction of Guadeloupe.

The church is representative of the territory's rich identity and the introduction of concrete into construction. At the time, concrete was still a little-used material, but it gradually began to take over from wood. The Saint-André church dominates the forecourt overlooked by the presbytery, also designed by Ali Tur. The edifice was built on a basilica plan, with the nave reaching a height of 13 meters. The nave is illuminated by large vertical windows that promote ventilation and create a play of light. The same principle was used to close the nave ceiling and the gallery walls. Over time, the bell tower, also built in concrete, was deteriorating and no longer met paraseismic standards. In 2013, it was therefore decided to close the church to bring it up to standard, given the high seismic risk in Guadeloupe. In 2019, the Saint-André church was selected by the Fondation du patrimoine from among 18 emblematic projects. This was a welcome boost for its restoration as part of the Loto du Patrimoine program. As a result, the long-awaited work has been able to get underway again, with an active phase scheduled for 2024. The commune hopes to celebrate the first masses in late 2024-early 2025.