The Notre-Dame-des-Champs Church is a truly unique presence in the landscape of Repentigny, as well as in the architectural production of places of worship in Quebec. It is an exceptional work whose forms have inspired a wide range of interpretations: King David’s lyre, praying hands, a ship’s hull, a handbag, and more. Notre-Dame-des-Champs stands out among D’Astous’s churches for its use of a concealed steel structure. The architect typically favored concrete or glued-laminated timber and often left the structural framework of his churches exposed. In this case, however, D’Astous chose a lightweight steel frame because the soil in Repentigny—composed of a thick clay layer—would not have supported a heavy masonry structure.
The church’s cedar shingle roof, a major contributor to the building’s distinctive character, dates back to its inauguration and is now in need of replacement. The shingles are in an advanced state of deterioration—fragments are scattered around the church grounds, and signs of water infiltration have begun to appear in the nave. The parish hopes to undertake the roof restoration but lacks the funds to begin the work. The estimated cost of the restoration exceeds $3 million, with the parish responsible for covering $1.1 million.
The church is listed in the Quebec Inventory of Places of Worship and has been ranked as a site of outstanding importance (A) by the Quebec Religious Heritage Council (CPRQ), but it does not benefit from any official heritage protection status.
External Link
Notre-Dame-des-Champs Parish Website
