Construction of the first temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Catalonia began in Sant Cugat del Vallès on Saturday 19 September. For an estimated 22,000 members who will be served by the site, the new temple is intended to replace journeys of several hundred kilometres to the church's existing Spanish temple in Madrid.

About 500 people attended the cornerstone ceremony on land at the junction of Avinguda de la Via Augusta and Via Clota, in the Volpelleres neighbourhood, according to reporting by Metrópoli Abierta. It will be Spain's second temple of the denomination, following the Madrid temple inaugurated in 1999.

“Democratic institutions must guarantee that everyone can live their beliefs in freedom, with equality and respect.”Josep Maria Vallès, Mayor of Sant Cugat

A garden-led complex near Barcelona

The development will occupy a plot of almost 22,000 square metres, with most of the land set aside for gardens. Its location was selected for its proximity to Barcelona and its public and private transport connections.

  • A two-storey main building will contain spaces for private religious ceremonies, including marriages and sealings, religious rites concerning family relationships.
  • An auxiliary building will provide care and management facilities for users and the local church community.
  • The temple's service area will cover Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, parts of the Valencian Community and southern France.

The church distinguishes temples from its regular meetinghouses. Temple ceremonies are restricted to members after a formal dedication, while meetinghouses are used for ordinary congregational worship and community activities.

Public visits planned before dedication

Before the temple is dedicated, the church says it will hold open-house days, allowing Sant Cugat residents and other visitors to see inside the building. After dedication, the interior will be reserved for church members.

Elder James W. McConkie III, president of the church's Central Europe Area, led the religious part of Saturday's ceremony and offered a prayer to bless the site. The Church has published the project on its Barcelona Spain Temple announcement page.

Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.