Transcriber’s Note: During his time in Paris, the author didn’t achievea perfect command of the French language; many French words and placenames are incorrectly spelt and/or accented. These errors have beenpreserved.

H. E. Noyes, D.D.

Seventeen Years
in Paris:

A CHAPLAIN’S STORY.

BY
H. E. NOYES, D.D.

(Late Hon. Chaplain to His Majesty’s Embassy,
and Incumbent of the Embassy Church,
Rue d’Aguesseau, Paris).

BAINES and SCARSBROOK,
PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS,
75 Fairfax Road, Swiss Cottage, London, N.W.
1910.

DEDICATED TO THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN
COLONIES IN PARIS, WITH WHOM I
SPENT THESE HAPPY YEARS,
1891-1907.

PREFACE.

In sending forth this brief account of my longchaplaincy in Paris, I desire to say that I do so atthe request of many friends, who were kind enoughto express their interest. It is not intended to be anaccount of life generally in Paris, or a description ofthe beauties and treasures of the City. There aremany books which do this better than I could hopeto do, for the life of a chaplain in Paris is a verystrenuous one—every day bringing its work, andoften much unexpected work, that it was difficultto give much time to sight-seeing. My predecessor,Rev. T. Howard Gill, said to me when I accepted theposition, “Do not stay more than seven years—it isenough for any man.” I stayed nearly seventeen.I have not attempted either to give any full accounthere of the spiritual side of my work—I would onlysay that I have every reason to thank God thatI went, both for the work He enabled me to do and theexperience that I have gained. There is an erroneousimpression in some minds about Continental work,viz., that it unfits a man for Parochial work at home.I heard this expressed upon my appointment to mypresent sphere. The fact, however, is very different.The work is so varied, so constant, and often so unexpected,that one gains as much experience in sixmonths in a city like Paris as British Chaplain as onewould gain in a much longer time at home.

It may be true that in small chaplaincies in lonelyplaces, with but few English people in residence,men get out of touch with Church life and work inEngland, but it is not the same in the permanentchaplaincies in thickly populated places.

In Paris we had our organisations much as athome. Daily Services, Sunday Schools, Mothers’Meetings, Visitors, etc., and although the numbersattending (owing to distance) were not so great as athome, the work was much the same.

I have given several hints which I trust may beuseful to parents intending to send their childrenabroad for education, and also to those who may bepurposing to reside in Paris.

As we are going to press the notice appears in thepapers of the death of Sir Edmund Monson, formerlyAmbassador in Paris. The country loses in him adistinguished and faithful servant, and all who knewhim will regret a kind and generous friend.

H. E. NOYES, D.D.

St. Mary’s Vicarage,
Kilburn, N.W.

CONTENTS.