Church of Saint-Léon-de-Westmount facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint-Léon-de-Westmount |
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Saint-Léon de Westmount Church
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| 45°29′08″N 73°35′31″W / 45.485560°N 73.591940°W | |
| Location | Westmount, Quebec |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | active |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Georges-Alphonse Monette; |
| Architectural type | Neo-Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Province | Canada |
| Official name: Church of Saint-Léon-de-Westmount National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1997 |
The Church of Saint-Léon-de-Westmount (also known as Église Saint-Léon de Westmount in French) is a beautiful Roman Catholic church. You can find it in Westmount, Quebec, at 4311 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West. It's a very special building in Canada!
This church was built in 1901. A famous architect from Montreal, Georges-Alphonse Monette, designed it. The inside of the church was decorated by Guido Nincheri between 1901 and 1903. He used a special painting method called buon fresco. This means he painted on wet plaster, which makes the colors last a very long time.
Discovering Saint-Léon Church
The Church of Saint-Léon-de-Westmount is a great example of old church architecture. It was built in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style looks back to old Roman buildings. The front of the church, called the façade, has an Italianate look. This means it has features often seen in Italian buildings, like a tall bell tower.
Because of its unique design and history, the Church of Saint-Léon-de-Westmount was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997. This means it's recognized as a very important place in Canadian history and culture. A special plaque was put up in 1999 to mark this honor.
Important People at the Church
Many talented people have worked at Saint-Léon Church over the years. One notable person was Romain Pelletier. He was the church's organist for a very long time, from 1909 to 1951. An organist plays the large pipe organ during church services.
Romain's brother, Frédéric Pelletier, also worked at the church for a short time. He was the choirmaster. A choirmaster leads the church choir, helping them sing beautifully during services. Both brothers helped make the music at Saint-Léon Church very special.
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The outside of the church. -
Looking inside the church. -
The sanctuary, where the altar is. -
The beautiful ceiling, called the vault. -
A colorful stained-glass window. -
Another amazing stained-glass window. -
A close-up of a stained-glass window. -
One more stunning stained-glass window.
