Les Peres Redemptoristes Church

The Church of the Redeemer, as it is better known, stands at the end of one of Hué’s main thoroughfares, Nguyen Hué Street. It is a large open plan structure of almost art nouveau styling. It’s huge imposing front gable has a large stained glass window. The exterior walls are painted white and powder blue, it has three large doors. The spire is triple roofed and situated towards the rear of the building. The bell tower holds four bells which ring out daily. Sadly the days of campanologists are gone and they are electrically operated.

The building work was started in 1937 and completely in 1942. The rear of the building looks as tough several extensions have been added on to the main body of the church, but this is how it is designed. It is a hotchpotch of red tiled roofs and creamy white walls with many arched windows. The interior of the church is spectacular.The main alter, made of solid rose marble is ten feet by 4 feet and stands eight feet high. On either side is another smaller alter of the same construction.

The western Christian and Eastern Buddhist elements seem all mixed up here. The church looks ostensibly a Western Christian church, but the addition of drums and gongs to the interior, do much to suggest a deeply Eastern influence. There is a small room where the ashes of deceased parishioners are kept in urns. Outside in the front corner of the gardens stands a magnificent white statue of Christ. Including the plinth it is about 20 feet tall and is exquisitely carved. The church completely dominates the corner of the two roads on which it stands. It receives many visitors but is still obviously a functioning house of worship. Visitors are expected to leave footwear at the door and cover arms and legs at all time.