St. Michel de Sillery Church (Quebec City) facts for kids
The St. Michel de Sillery Church (also known as église Saint-Michel de Sillery in French) is a Catholic church located in Sillery, Quebec City. It's a special part of the Sillery Heritage Site. The church you see today was built in 1852. It was first named after an Irish saint, Saint Columba. However, the church's history goes back much further! The first church community here started in 1644, when the Jesuits built a small chapel on this very spot.
Quick facts for kids St. Michel de Sillery Church |
|
|---|---|
|
|
Front with statues of the Canadian Martyrs
|
|
 St. Michel de Sillery Church
Location in Quebec City
|
|
| 46°46′27″N 71°14′39″W / 46.774279°N 71.244043°W | |
| Location |
|
| 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) |
|
| 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 |
Contents
History of the Church
The St. Michel de Sillery Church has a long and interesting history, starting with the first missionaries who arrived in the area.
Early Beginnings
In 1637, a group called the Jesuits came to New France (which is now Canada). They started a special mission in the Sillery area. They built the mission Saint-Joseph de Sillery to help the local First Nations people. They named their mission after Saint Joseph.
In 1644, the Jesuits built a small chapel for both the French and First Nations people. This chapel was named after Saint Michael. It was built on a high piece of land in Sillery called pointe à Puiseaux. The Jesuits later left the area in the late 1600s.
For many years, until 1847, local Catholic people had to travel far to attend church. They went to Sainte-Foy or Quebec City. Then, a local timber merchant named Patrick McInenly turned his house into a place of worship called St. Richard's Chapel. As more people joined, it was decided to build a proper church on the same spot where the first chapel stood.
Building the Church
Building the current church started in 1852. The first plans were made by an architect named Goodlatte Richardson Browne. In 1853, another architect, Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy, took over the project. The church was ready for people to worship in 1854.
In 1855, the church was officially named Colomb (the French form of Columba). The next year, both the town and the church community were named St Columba of Sillery. The tall bell tower and its spire were finished in 1880, following Peachy's designs.
Changes Over Time
When the church first opened, much of the inside was not yet finished. Work on the interior began in October 1866, based on Browne's plans. Peachy oversaw the work. Jean Vézina created the beautiful wooden decorations, and Maurice Larose did the stone work.
In 1945, the church's interior was changed during a renovation. The old gold and white wooden altar was moved, and a new brown granite one was put in its place. Some wooden railings were replaced with an iron communion table. The pulpit was removed, and new pews (church benches) were installed. Even the Stations of the Cross (pictures showing Jesus's journey) were replaced with metal ones.
In 1969, the church was renamed St. Michel de Sillery. This was done to honor Pierre de Puiseaux, who used to own the land where the church stands.
The Parish Community
A parish is a local church community. St. Michel de Sillery Church is part of the same parish as St. Charles Garnier Church.
St. Charles Garnier Church
St. Charles Garnier Church (Église Saint-Charles-Garnier in French) was started on August 7, 1944. Cardinal Villeneuve allowed a new parish to be created for the people in the northern part of Sillery. This new church was named after Saint Charles Garnier. In the fall of 1947, the St. Charles Garnier Church opened. It was designed by Charles A. Jean and built by François Jobin & Co.
Mass Times
Since both churches are now in the same parish, their Mass times are planned so they don't overlap.
- St. Michel de Sillery Church has Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM. It also has Masses at 4:30 PM on Wednesday and Friday.
- St. Charles Garnier Church has Masses for Sunday at 4:30 PM on Saturday and at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning. It also has Masses at 4:30 PM on Monday, 5:30 PM on Tuesday, and 4:30 PM on Thursday.
Exterior
-
West side of the church
-
Statue of Mary in the church grounds
See also
