Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal (Île Perrot) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Église Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal |
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 Église Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal
Location in Quebec
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| 45°20′58″N 73°54′06″W / 45.3494°N 73.9017°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Concrete |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Valleyfield |
The Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal church is a historic Catholic church. It is located on Île Perrot, an island west of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. This church was built between 1773 and 1774. It is one of the oldest rural churches still standing in North America.
Contents
Where is Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal Church Located?
The church sits on a high point of Île Perrot. It overlooks the Saint Lawrence River. This spot was known as the Cataraqui River by the first people living there.
The church is in the town of Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot. It faces the town of Beauharnois to the south.
The church's bell tower helps boats navigate the river. It is one of the ten oldest religious buildings in rural North America. The church is named after Saint Jane Frances de Chantal. This honors the devotion of Jeanne-Françoise Cullerier, who owned the land.
The History of the Church Building
Early Days and First Chapel
Île Perrot was given to François-Marie Perrot in 1672. This was done by Jean Talon. Until 1721, the island was part of the Pointe-Claire parish. However, island residents often went to Sainte-Anne du Bout for church services. This town is now called Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. People had to travel by canoe to get there.
A small chapel was built on the island in 1743. But the population grew quickly. The chapel soon became too small. In 1753, Jean-Baptiste Leduc, the local lord, gave land for a new church.
Building the Current Church
Construction of the current church did not begin until 1773. It was finished in August 1774. Work on the church continued until 1783. The first church was rectangular. It had similar dimensions to the main part of the church today. It ended in a round, semi-circular section called an apse.
The outside walls were made of red sandstone. In 1838, these walls were covered with cement. This cement was repaired many times over the years.
Growth and Changes Over Time
At first, a visiting priest served the parish. Then, in 1789, a priest came to live permanently on the island. Parishioner representatives, called "syndics," slowly bought furniture and paintings. They also acquired sacred vessels for the church.
The building was made larger in 1812. The church tower was added in 1842. It held the first bell. In 1848, the church was expanded on the side where the sacristy is.
The sacristy is a room where priests prepare for services. It burned down in 1852 and was rebuilt in 1853. The bell tower was hit by lightning in 1863. It took two years to repair. In 1864, the cedar shingles on the roof were replaced with sheet metal.
Rebuilding and Recognition
In 1896, a strong storm caused the tower to collapse. It had to be rebuilt. The falling tower also damaged the front of the church. In 1901, the main part of the church was extended by 2.5 meters (about 8 feet). A new front was built. A new bell tower, 21 meters (about 69 feet) high, was also added. The architect Alcide Chaussé designed this new front.
New bells were installed in 1925. In 1961, the church was declared a historic monument. This was done by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. In 2008, it was named one of the "Seven Wonders of Vaudreuil-Soulanges."
What Does the Church Look Like?
Original Design and Expansions
The first church building was 60 feet long and 30 feet wide. It was 18 feet high to the roof. It had eight glass windows with shutters and one door. The ceiling was vaulted and made of light-colored planks. The roof was covered with cedar shingles.
In 1812, the main part of the church was extended by about 10 meters (33 feet). The round apse was replaced with a flat-walled choir. A sacristy was built as an extension of the choir at this time. With the addition of two side chapels, the building took the shape of a Roman cross.
The front of the church originally had only one door. But the 1901 restoration added two smaller doors and four windows.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is decorated in the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles. These styles are common in traditional Quebec architecture.
The main altar painting shows the patron saint, Jeanne de Chantal. It was bought in 1790. Some believe the painter Louis Dulongpré created it. Joseph Turcaut made the wood paneling and false ceiling between 1812 and 1819. He likely also made the altars. Louis-Xavier Leprohon added more decorations in 1828. This included the altarpieces and details on the ceiling. The work by Turcaut and Le Prohon is still perfectly preserved.
Paintings of Ecce Homo and La Vierge de douleur were installed in 1828. Their artists are unknown. "The Miracle St. Anthony" and "The Baptism of Christ" are also by unknown artists.
A painting called "Christ in pain" is in the transept. It was painted in 1881 by Joseph Dynes. The altarpiece in the west arm of the transept has a statue. It is called Our Lady of the Guard. The Sulpicians of Montreal donated it in 1849. This statue is one of the first made by the Grey Nuns of Montreal. They often used a technique called Papier-mâché.
Other Buildings and Cemeteries
The rectory, where the priest lives, was built in 1780 by Basile Proulx. It is a large stone house typical of that time. The outside looks the same, except for an addition in 1992. The inside was repaired in the 1850s after a fire.
The priest lived in part of the building. It also had a large meeting room called the salle des habitants. This room was used as a school for a short time. Around 1860, it became the island's first library.
The old cemetery behind the church dates back to 1793. It was surrounded by a tall stone wall. It was made larger, and the wall was rebuilt in 1942. A new terraced cemetery was built between 1951 and 1959. It has a large central stairway and slopes down towards the Saint Lawrence River. This terraced cemetery is the only one of its kind in Quebec.
The Chapel of Remembrance was built in 1953. It is a reconstruction of the original small chapel. This chapel used stones from the first chapel at Pointe-du-Moulin.
