QUEBEC – preserving religious heritage in a secular age

QUEBEC – preserving religious heritage in a secular age

St Jude's, before and after its transformation. Photo: conseil du patrimoine religieux du Quebec; Saint-Jude Espace Tonu

St Jude’s, before and after its transformation. Photo: conseil du patrimoine religieux du Quebec; Saint-Jude Espace Tonu

In a lengthy article for the National Post, Graeme Hamilton describes Quebec’s efforts to find new uses for its religious heritage, as a way to ensure its survival in a secular age. One example, the St Jude’s Shrine, has been transformed into a private gym.

The article relates the fate of Quebec’s Religious Heritage Council, created in 1995, which at first only subsidized repairs of religious heritage buildings that were still in use. But since 2003, about 400 churches in the province have closed, a development which continues at a rhythm of one church a week. Mr. Boucher, a project manager with the heritage council, says: “Everyone needs to make a compromise so the buildings find a useful life in society and continue to convey their historical significance.”

“The push to preserve churches by giving them a new mission hit an obstacle with the arrival of Christian Lépine as the Roman Catholic archbishop of Montreal in 2012. Soon after his appointment, he declared a moratorium on the sale of churches, worried that worshippers would lose their neighbourhood church. Projects to install daycare facilities and community centres in closed churches were suddenly on hold.”

 

However, Lyne Bernier, a researcher associated with the Canada research chair on urban heritage at Université du Québec à Montréal, argues that resisting change in the hope that pews will one day fill up again is a recipe for further deterioration of the buildings. “There may be sporadic returns by certain small groups, but the loss of interest is widespread and it’s irreversible. It’s not just limited to Quebec; it’s in Europe and in all western countries in general.”

Read the full article here.

 

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