Protest held to save 'prestigious' Montreal church

Nearly 100 people gathered in front of Trs-Saint-Nom-de-Jsus Church on Sunday to ask the Quebec government to save the boarded-up church from the wrecking ball.

The protest, organized by the pro-sovereignty group Les Jeunes Patriotes du Qubec, drew former church goers, nearby residents and historians including Rjean Charbonneau.

"(This church) is very important because it's a large part of the history of Quebec. It's (our) duty to do that, not only for the people but for the government," said Charbonneau.

The towering, stone Roman Catholic church was built in 1905, when the area of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve was among the wealthiest on the island.

"It was the real first prestigious building of the (old) city of Maisonneuve, " said Charbonneau.

For decades, the church's massive Casavant Frres pipe organ filled the neighbourhood with the sounds of worship as hundreds of church-goers lined the wooden pews.

However, last year, the Montreal fire department ordered the church doors closed because of structural and safety concerns.

Facing mounting repair costs, the Archdiocese of Montreal decided it was too expensive to restore the church and keep it in good condition. Even while it sits empty, the building is costing the diocese $100,000 a year to heat and maintain, according to church officials.

The provincial government has refused to classify the church as a heritage or cultural site.

Culture minister reviewing project

Borough Mayor Ral Mnard said the archdiocese's proposal is to tear down the church and build public housing in its place.

"We will not accept that. We want to have social housing, of course. We recognize we have some needs in Hochelaga. But it's not the right place to do that," he said.

The borough will put up $100,000 to help restore the church, said Mnard.

Quebec Culture and Communications Minister Christine St-Pierre said the government is reviewing the file.

Other partners would have to come on board, she said, for the Quebec government to consider funding to restore the church.

"It must be seen how much it would cast because it's all a question of money," said St-Pierre.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has expressed interest in buying the Casavant Frres organ.

The organ, which is more than 100 years old, is considered one of the most powerful in North America.