Denomination: CATHOLIC |
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Denomination: CATHOLIC |
Photo: C. Turmel |
Photo: C. Turmel |
he church is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, son of Elizabeth, the Virgin Mary's cousin,
and patron saint of French Canadians.
A few years after the founding of the Saint-Enfant-Jésus Parish, the Mile End church was no
longer able to accommodate all the followers who lived north of Pine Avenue. In June 1872,
landowners in the town of Saint John the Baptist donated twenty lots along Rachel Street for the construction of a church
to the archdiocese of Montreal.
The parish erected the first church according to the plans of Alphonse Raza, the interior
was designed by the architects Poitras and Roy, and the sumptuous façade was conceived by
Jos Venne. A fire in January 1898 destroyed the entire structure.
he parish then opened a contest for Catholic architects of the city, and the winner was
Émile Vanier. The new church which could hold 3200 people was inaugurated in 1903.
The sobriety of the neoclassical façade is uncommon. The first elevation is squat and is
more reminiscent of the military-like architecture of the Dalhousie door than the portico
of the Saint James Cathedral which it seems to emulate. This is evident in the entablature surmounted
by a pediment on four pairs of columns that frame three round arches. The second storey is
marked by engaged pilasters with Corinthian capitals which run the width of the façade;
between these are windows with lintels and cornices.
Lateral view of the second church Photo: William Notman, June 1903 |
he semi-octagonal bell towers amplify the width of the façade. An imposing dome on a drum
dominates the crossing of the transepts, and shows signs of the fire that happened a few days
after the Saint John the Baptist celebrations of June 27, 1911. The fire destroyed the interior,
the ceiling and the dome; the upper parts of the exterior walls were also damaged.
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he parish organized a contest for the reconstruction of the church. After disagreements
with award winning J.D. Lafrenière, the parish finally entrusted the reconstruction to
architect Casimir Saint-Jean. The design of the interior was given to J.B. Lagacé,
professor of Beaux-Arts at the University of Laval.
Some modifications were made to the openings in the upper parts of the church, and it was
decided not to reconstruct the dome. The pediment was decorated with sculpted motifs by
Dalfour, and five statues representing Christ and the four Evangelists were put over it.
Two other statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul were added in lateral niches. All these
sculptures were made in Bedford, Indiana, by Italian artisans.
ehind the austerity of the façade is the dazzling interior influenced by the Napoleon III
style. It is the largest parochial church, after Notre-Dame, and can accommodate 2800 people.
The amplitude and the splendour of the interior space, with its light tones embellished with
gilding, demands admiration and goes beyond whatever a detailed description may provide.
 Text: Archdiocese of MontrealEnglish translation: Clara Gabriel |
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