Leaning steeple on St-Henri church removed

The St-ZotiqueChurch in Montreal's St-Henri neighbourhood dismantled the top of oneof its bell towers Friday morning because it was dangerously tilted to one side.

A parishioner noticed the copper top of one of the church's two steeples was crooked andreported it to the church.

The area was fenced off and work crews were called in a day later toremove it with two large cranes.

Damage to the leaning steeple was clear once it was lowered to the ground. The wood insidewas rotted and both the copper dome and iron cross were corroded.

Community saddened

TheSt-ZotiqueChurch was completed in 1927 and overlooks St-Henri'sSir-Georges-tienne-Cartier Squarenear the historicLachineCanal. It was built at a time when the neighbourhoodwas largely working-class and residents regularly attended the Catholic church.

The priest, Father Jean Boyer, was saddened as the steeple of his church was lowered to theground Friday.

"It's like part of history going down there," he said.

St-Henri resident Vincent Thomasset said he wassorry the top of the bell tower had to come down.

"Ijust hope they put the same kind of tower back up and they have the money to restore it," hesaid.

Funding needed

Boyer said the parish is now cash-strapped because very few people come to worship at St-ZotiqueChurch these days.

He said removing the top of the bell tower cost about $7,000, andrepairing it would have cost a lot more.

"I am sad because especially here in St-Henri it's almost thelast church [still] up and open," he said, adding that heand other parishioners noticed the damage after a wind storm earlier in the week.

It'snot clear if that's what caused the steeple to tilt to one side.

Work crews were asked to also inspect the second bell tower while they were carrying outrepairs.Boyer fears that steeple will have to come down too.

"What's going to happen for therest, we don't know," he said.

Boyer said he doesn't believe the 88-year-old church will be eligible for anyprovincial government fundingso he's hoping the Archdiocese of Montreal will be able to help pay for the repairs.

Caroline Tanguay, who is responsible for religious heritage and sacred art for the Archdiocese ofMontreal said it is evaluating the cost of the damage and will consider funding. She said theArchdiocese may launch a fundraising campaign to help pay for the repairs.