St. Michel de Sillery Church (Quebec City) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Michel de Sillery Church |
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The front of the church, with statues of the Canadian Martyrs
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 St. Michel de Sillery Church
Location in Quebec City
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| 46°46′27″N 71°14′39″W / 46.774279°N 71.244043°W | |
| Location |
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| Country | Canada |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Columb Church |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1644 |
| Founder(s) | Society of Jesus |
| Dedication | Saint Michael |
| Dedicated | 1969 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Part of a Quebec heritage property (Sillery Heritage Site) |
| Designated | February 5, 1964 |
| Architect(s) |
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| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1852–1854 |
| Groundbreaking | Autumn 1852 |
| Completed | November 1854 |
| Construction cost | 3147 louis |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 36.6 m (120 ft 1 in) |
| Width | 18.3 m (60 ft 0 in) |
| Height | 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) |
| Materials | Sandstone, sheet metal, plaster |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bienheureuse-Dina-Bélanger |
| Archdiocese | Quebec |
St. Michel de Sillery Church (in French: église Saint-Michel de Sillery) is a historic Roman Catholic church in the Sillery area of Quebec City, Canada. It is known for its beautiful Gothic Revival style, which makes it look like a small castle or cathedral from long ago.
The church is part of the Sillery Heritage Site, which protects important historic buildings in the area. Even though the current building was finished in 1854, the parish itself is much older, starting all the way back in 1644 with a small chapel built by Jesuit missionaries.
Contents
A Long and Interesting History
The First Chapel
In 1637, a group of Catholic priests called the Jesuits came to the area, which was then called New France. They set up a mission to work with the local First Nations people.
In 1644, the Jesuits built a small chapel on a hill in Sillery. They dedicated it to Saint Michael. This chapel was used by both French settlers and First Nations people. The Jesuits eventually left the area in the late 1600s.
For many years after, local Catholics had to travel to other towns to go to church. Finally, in 1847, a local man let people use his house as a temporary chapel. As more people joined the congregation, they decided to build a brand new, larger church on the same spot as the original Jesuit chapel.
Building the Church We See Today
Work on the new church began in 1852. The first plans were drawn by an Irish-born architect named Goodlatte Richardson Browne. A year later, another architect, Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy, took over the project. The church officially opened in 1854.
At first, the church was dedicated to an Irish saint named Saint Columba. In 1880, the tall bell tower and spire were added, completing the church's classic Gothic look.
Changes Inside and Out
When the church first opened, the inside was very plain. The detailed decoration work didn't start until 1866. The architect Peachy supervised the work, with Jean Vézina carving the beautiful wooden decorations.
In 1945, the church had a major renovation. The fancy gold and white wooden altar was replaced with a simpler one made of granite. Other wooden items, like the choir stalls and a railing, were also removed and replaced with newer styles.
In 1969, the church's name was officially changed to St. Michel de Sillery. This was done to honor Saint Michael, the patron of the very first chapel built on the site over 300 years earlier.
The Parish Today
St. Michel de Sillery Church shares its parish with another church, St. Charles Garnier Church. A parish is a community of churches in the same area. This means they can schedule their church services, called Masses, at different times so people can attend either one.
St. Michel de Sillery Church holds its main Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM. St. Charles Garnier Church has its Sunday Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Exterior Views
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A view of the west side of the church.
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A statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the church gardens.
See also
