Henri Capieu

CAPIEU, Henri. b. Bizerte, Tunisia 1909; d. Meudon, France 1993. Capieu was a French Reformed Pastor, ordained in 1933, who served at Clairac and at Les Salies de Béarn (1946­-47). He was inspired by the discreet piety of his mother, biblical narratives, and the Protestant poet Antoine de la Roche Chandieu (1534-1591). He pastored the church in Algiers (1947-61) where he befriended Albert Camus, and worked against torture during the Algerian war. He then became pastor in central Paris at the Luxemburg Temple (1961-78).  He was a hymnwriter and a talented poet, with a sensitivity to suffering and a calm repose. His hymn, ‘Nos cœurs te chantent’ (1974, completed 1998) to the tune IN DIR IST...