Tacked onto the plywood barrier surrounding the abandoned St-Eusèbe-de-Verceil church in Montreal, amidst messages such as “Free Gaza” and anti-police graffiti, a poem catches the eye.
The unnamed poet begins with, “This church is no more,” and concludes with the question, “Why is the building moulding too?”
Authorities at the once-grand Montreal Catholic church are pondering the same query. Following neglect, a fire incident, hefty fines from the city, and repeated break-ins by urban adventurers and youths seeking social media fame, the church has resorted to an unusual step: taking legal action against the City of Montreal to seek permission for the building’s demolition.
As the number of church attendees diminishes and financial support for restoring religious structures decreases, underutilized churches throughout Quebec are racing against time to adapt to modern needs before facing a fate similar to St-Eusèbe-de-Verceil.
Keeping trespassers at bay has become a significant challenge for the parish fabrique, the church’s legal owner, and for 77-year-old priest Roger Dufresne.
Intruders have desecrated the interior of the church, littering the expansive sanctuary’s floor with debris, bird droppings, beer cans, and the dismantled remains of the church’s organ. Statues have been vandalized, the walls are covered in graffiti, and the once-thriving space that accommodated up to 1,000 worshippers now echoes with pigeon coos and wing flutters.
Concerns over safety and difficulties in obtaining a demolition permit have plagued Dufresne and the Montreal Catholic archdiocese. Despite multiple attempts to revive the site through partnerships, financial constraints and city regulations have hindered progress.
An engineering assessment post the 2019 fire estimated restoration costs exceeding $50 million, leading to the recommendation of a complete demolition for economic and safety reasons.
Stefano Marrone, overseeing the archdiocese’s real estate arm, emphasizes the urgent need for demolition due to safety hazards that deter officials from entering the premises. While hoping the permit will expedite development plans, uncertainties surrounding the building pose challenges in attracting potential collaborators for redevelopment projects.
The church aims to repurpose the site for mixed-use, including housing and community-oriented facilities, while preserving the presbytery for religious functions. Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested in renovating other churches, crucial as provincial funding for church renovations has been suspended.
Solange Lefebvre, from Université de Montréal, acknowledges Quebec’s success in repurposing churches but highlights escalating renovation costs as a barrier. Proposing the idea of converting these spaces to social or private housing, she advocates for practical solutions given the surplus of worship places.
Dufresne also supports the idea of transforming the site into housing, acknowledging the declining attendance at church services. Reflecting on the changing landscape of churches, he stresses the need for realistic adjustments to meet current demands.