In January, churches are required to send the list of their places of worship to the prefecture.

According to the new law, religious and mixed associations are required to send the list of their places of worship to the prefecture as of now. In the event of non-declaration, the churches risk a fine of 9 euros. 

This information was relayed by the National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) a few days ago. Following several exchanges with the Central Office of Worship of the Ministry of the Interior, the evangelical organization confirms that "cultual and mixed associations must send the list of their places of worship to the prefecture as of now".

⚠ Following several exchanges with the Central Office of Worship @Interieur_Gouv, we confirm that religious and mixed associations must send the list of their places of worship to the prefecture now.

- Romain CHOISNET (@comcnef) -

Information that may have gone unnoticed by religious associations as the reform is "complex and sometimes difficult to read" as the CNEF points out, yet it should have been carried out no later than the first day of the year 2023.

For worship associations that have not yet done so, it is therefore necessary to send a list of the places of worship where they meet now by registered mail.

With regard to associations registered for religious purposes in the Bas Rhin, Haut Rhin and Moselle, this obligation must also be fulfilled, but they have until January 1, 2024 to do so.

The sanction provided for in the event of non-declaration is still a fine of 9 euros. For its part, the CNEF has already informed the Ministry of the Interior that its members would be late in applying the law. The organization has also requested that no fine be imposed on evangelical associations for this “slight delay”.

To find out more, visit on the website of the National Council of Evangelicals of France which, for example, offers religious associations letter templates to download.

Camille Westphal Perrier