This text is part of the special section Discovering our history
The religious heritage bears witness to the founding heritage of Quebec and Montreal. For Caroline Tanguay, director of administrative services for the factories of the Diocese of Montreal, churches still have their place in the housing stock, because they are buildings to which citizens remain largely attached, despite the decrease in religious practice.
The Archdiocese of Montreal, which includes the island of Montreal and Laval, Repentigny as well as the Assumption, is home to 214 churches. While most of these places of worship were built between 1945 and 1975, nearly twenty opened after this period. This religious heritage represents the sum of the know-how of an era, whether in works of art, carpentry, sculpture or architecture.
“It is weakened, but it is part of our founding heritage of Montreal and Quebec, since many neighborhoods and villages have developed around churches,” says Ms.me Tanguay. Many citizens remain attached to these buildings and mobilize to preserve them, because they carry the history of the communities. »
Volunteers are therefore essential in maintaining these places. “Their commitment is fundamental, whether for administrative tasks, to open doors or help with the work,” she adds. They sometimes hold it at arm’s length. »
Conservation… and creation
Caroline Tanguay deals in particular with the diocesan reserves, that is to say objects recovered when the churches are sold, for example. It also oversees the preservation of the heritage values of places of worship. Since this year, she has directed the administrative services of the archdiocese, a mandate that corresponds to her passions: the history of art and the conservation of built heritage, two fields that she studied at university.
When asked about the conservation of the heritage located on the territory of the Archdiocese of Montreal, the restoration aspect seems unavoidable to him. “The parishes must apply for subsidies from the CPRQ to do work, for example to replace a century-old roof, explains Ms.me Tanguay. Then there is everything that is inside buildings, such as works of sacred art, which also deserve to be taken care of. »
The development of these places can also be synonymous with creation, thanks to the granting of contracts to contemporary artists. In 2021, Kahnawake-based multidisciplinary Mohawk artist Marian Snow (MC Snow) created a statue of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, now housed inside the Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral in downtown Montreal.
A redevelopment project also saw the light of day at the Saint-Sacrement sanctuary, in the heart of Plateau Mont-Royal, when a new community, the monastic fraternities of Jerusalem, came to settle there in 2004. one of their monks, an architect by training, who made the drawings. The community has also commissioned pieces from artists.
“Even today, in an older place and classified as a historic monument, there can be contemporary touches,” says Caroline Tanguay. They are still alive. »
Reinvent yourself to save
It is clear that religious practice is declining and that it is sometimes difficult to find the resources to preserve the built heritage, the Church living only on donations. On the territory of the diocese of Montreal, 57 churches were sold between 1995 and 2014, according to the latest updated figures. Occasionally, they are transferred to other religious communities, to associations that offer social services or to private bodies.
The re-use of the premises by organizations often allows the holding of solidarity activities, such as the distribution of food or the reception of homeless people. The buildings are therefore no longer intended for worship, but the people who buy them allow them to continue to exist in the urban landscape.
If churches are frequently associated with the past, some benefit from a new vocation, while others try to find innovative solutions. This is the case of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Montreal, which houses three performance halls. Classical and popular music concerts, dance and theater performances are held here, as well as conferences and other corporate events. Choir director Frédéric Vogel directs a choir of 170 singers and 15 musicians there.
“The objective is to remain a church, but to find the financial means by promoting different uses, explains Caroline Tanguay. The money invested is then no longer just intended for the users of the church, but for the whole community of a neighborhood or a city. »
For meme Tanguay, there are indeed challenges to preserving religious heritage, but it is still possible to face them, with a little creativity.
“Even today, in an older place and listed as a historical monument, there can be contemporary touches. They are still alive. »
The reuse of the premises by organizations often allows the holding of solidarity activities. The buildings are therefore no longer intended for worship, but the people who buy them allow them to continue to exist in the urban landscape.