Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church

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Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church

2151, rue Fullum, Montréal

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Construction year

Between 1913 and 1922

Municipality or borough

Ville-Marie

L'église Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil en 2025. © Anthony Plagnes Payá pour Héritage Montréal

Citizen alert

Alert submitted by Carole-Anne Danis & Melvin Mariampillai on October 20 2020

Construction of Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church began in 1913, based on plans by Aristide Beaugrand-Champagne. However, work was suspended from 1914 to 1919 due to the First World War. Construction resumed in 1919 under the direction of Joseph-Henri Caron and continued until 1922. Further work was carried out in the following years: for example, the high altar was installed and the interior decoration was completed in 1923. The stained-glass windows were installed in 1926.

In 2003, following the suppression of the neighbouring parishes of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Saint-Anselme by the Diocese of Montreal, the church became the repository for their parish registers. Beginning in 2009, for financial and safety reasons, religious services were held in the church basement.

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2151 Rue Fullum, Montréal, QC, Canada

According to the statement of heritage significance published in October 2012 by the City of Montreal’s Heritage Division:

“The heritage significance of the Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church site rests primarily on its urban landscape value, owing to the church’s strong presence, visibility and monumentality, the site’s contribution to the institutional core, and its positive impact on the surrounding area.

The site also has artistic value due to the quality of the church’s monumental architectural composition, its extensive ornamentation and materials, the quality of its interior spaces, and the architectural quality of the rectory.

The site holds symbolic and social value because of the community’s attachment to it, the memories associated with the place, the spiritual significance of the church and its sense of place, and the church’s importance as a centre of religious and social activity in the neighbourhood. Finally, its heritage significance also rests on its historical value, as it is closely linked to the history of the neighbourhood.”

However, the church has been abandoned for many years and is threatened by vandalism and structural deterioration, which could ultimately lead to its demolition. In 2019, a major fire requiring the intervention of dozens of firefighters destroyed the church floor and severely damaged the works of art inside. Since then, the church has remained vacant and continued to deteriorate. Several proposals have been put forward over the years, including a housing cooperative and a private residential development, but none has come to fruition.

The building faces a high risk of demolition due to its advanced state of deterioration, weakened structural condition and resulting safety concerns. Since the 2019 arson fire, the condition of Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church has continued to worsen, compounded by repeated unauthorized entries and the presence of squatters, increasing the risk of further incidents.

Updates

Latest updates

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  1. Update

    Submission of the Petition to the Borough Council

    This link leads to an external website. Its content is the responsibility of its author and does not represent Héritage Montréal.

  2. Update

    Launch of a Citizen Petition to Preserve the Church

    The Comité de la rue Fullum and several neighbourhood residents have launched a petition opposing the demolition of the church. The petition calls on the Ville-Marie borough and the City of Montréal to require the preservation of the bell tower and façade in any new development project, and to ensure that any justification for the proposed demolition is subject to independent, publicly accessible expert assessments.

    This link leads to an external website. Its content is the responsibility of its author and does not represent Héritage Montréal.

  3. Update

    Legal proceedings to authorize demolition

    Legal proceedings have been initiated before the Superior Court to obtain authorization to demolish the building on the grounds of these safety concerns. The City of Montreal recognizes the building as having exceptional heritage value. Municipal proceedings related to site safety are also underway.

  4. In the media
    L'Église Saint-Clément, dans le quartier Viauville (Emmanuel Delacour/EMM)

    QUE DEVIENT LE PATRIMOINE RELIGIEUX DE L’EST?

    Depuis les dernières années, ce sont 16 de lieux de culte qui ont été démolis, fermés ou recyclés dans l’est montréalais. Selon un décompte effectué par EST MÉDIA Montréal. Les fidèles n’étant plus au rendez-vous, la préservation du patrimoine religieux passe parfois par des init

  5. Carole-Anne Danis & Melvin Mariampillai Community contribution

    Citizen alert

    Construction of Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church began in 1913, based on plans by Aristide Beaugrand-Champagne. However, work was suspended from 1914 to 1919 due to the First World War. Construction resumed in 1919 under the direction of Joseph-Henri Caron and continued until 1922. Further work was carried out in the following years: for example, the high altar was installed and the interior decoration was completed in 1923. The stained-glass windows were installed in 1926.

    In 2003, following the suppression of the neighbouring parishes of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Saint-Anselme by the Diocese of Montreal, the church became the repository for their parish registers. Beginning in 2009, for financial and safety reasons, religious services were held in the church basement.

  6. Update

    Major fire at the church

    A major fire, which required the intervention of dozens of firefighters, destroyed the church floor and severely damaged the works of art inside.

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