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THE STORY OF L'ARCHE
The story of L’Arche started over 50 years ago in the village of Trosly-Breuil in northern France, in response to the inhumane conditions of the large institutions where people with intellectual disabilities had been placed. Now, L’Arche is present in over 38 countries across the world.
1964
First L'Arche community opens in Trosly, France
Jean Vanier, Phillipe Seux and Jean-Pierre Crépieux move into the first L’Arche house.
1969
Second community, Daybreak, opens in Richmond Hill, Canada
1971
Faith and Light is founded
Faith and Light is a support and friendship organisation for families with children with intellectual disabilities.
1974
First ecumenical community was founded in Canterbury, United Kingdom
1975
First International Federation Meeting was held in Canada. Sue Mosteller appointed International Coordinator of L'Arche.
By 1975, there are 30 L’Arche communities worldwide in France, Canada, India, UK, USA, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Honduras, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Australia.
1981
L'Arche founds a community secretly behind the Iron Curtain, in Sledziejowice, Poland
1989
By 1989, there are new communities, in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Germany, Poland, Italy, Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, and on the West Bank.
1999
L'Arche International legally incorporated
2014
L’Arche célèbre son 50e anniversaire. Des manifestations sont organisées dans toute la Fédération.
2015
Jean-Pierre Crépieux, member of L'Arche Trosly, receives the Legion d’Honneur from President Macron of France, for helping to advance the cause of people with disabilities.
2019
Death of Jean Vanier
2020
3 years after the inquiry into the behavoir of Fr. Thomas Phillipe an External Inquiry commissioned by L’Arche International into the founding and history of L’Arche reveals Jean Vanier also abused women in the context of spiritual direction.
2020
Covid 19 Pandemic
2020
154 communities and 19 projects in 38 countries