{"id":11597,"date":"2020-10-20T20:08:51","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T20:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memento.heritagemontreal.org\/?post_type=site&p=11597"},"modified":"2026-11-11T16:42:39","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T16:42:39","slug":"eglise-saint-eusebe-de-verceil","status":"publish","type":"site","link":"https:\/\/memento.heritagemontreal.org\/en\/site\/eglise-saint-eusebe-de-verceil\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint-Eus\u00e8be-de-Verceil Church"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":14517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_hm_memento_featured_video_id":14522},"tax_site_category":[102],"tax_issue":[67],"tax_status":[85],"tax_threat":[88,89,90,91,93,94,512],"tax_site_type":[11],"class_list":["post-11597","site","type-site","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","site_category-religious","issue-mechanisms-for-protection","status-building-of-exceptional-heritage-value","threat-vacant","threat-no-upkeep","threat-lack-of-knowledge","threat-demand-for-land-speculation","threat-demolition-en","threat-vandalism","threat-incendie","site_type-citizen-alert"],"acf":{"related_sites":null,"other_names":[{"name":""},{"name":""}],"location":{"address":"2151 Rue Fullum, Montr\u00e9al, QC, Canada","lat":45.531787,"lng":-73.557372,"zoom":17,"place_id":"ChIJy3EnRL4byUwRc0eWjCysQRU","name":"2151 Rue Fullum","street_number":"2151","street_name":"Rue Fullum","city":"Montr\u00e9al","state":"Qu\u00e9bec","state_short":"QC","post_code":"H2K 3P1","country":"Canada","country_short":"CA"},"address":"2151, rue Fullum, Montr\u00e9al","municipality_borough":"Ville-Marie","owners":"Privately owned: La Fabrique de la paroisse de Saint-Eus\u00e8be-de-Verceil","conception":"Aristide Beaugrand-Champagne (base);\r\nJoseph-Henri Caron;\r\nGuido Nincheri (painted medallions on the vault);\r\nHobbs Company (stained-glass windows)","managers":"Owner: The Roman Catholic Real Estate Corporation of Montreal (CICRM)","year_construction":"Between 1913 and 1922","recognition_status":"Immeuble de valeur patrimoniale exceptionnelle","submitted_by":"Carole-Anne Danis et Melvin Mariampillai","video_url":"","nouveau_style":true,"text":"

According to the statement of heritage significance <\/a>published in October 2012 by the City of Montreal\u2019s Heritage Division:<\/p>\n

“The heritage significance of the Saint-Eus\u00e8be-de-Verceil Church site rests primarily on its urban landscape value, owing to the church\u2019s strong presence, visibility and monumentality, the site\u2019s contribution to the institutional core, and its positive impact on the surrounding area.<\/p>\n

The site also has artistic value due to the quality of the church\u2019s monumental architectural composition, its extensive ornamentation and materials, the quality of its interior spaces, and the architectural quality of the rectory.<\/p>\n

The site holds symbolic and social value because of the community\u2019s attachment to it, the memories associated with the place, the spiritual significance of the church and its sense of place, and the church\u2019s 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.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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-Eus\u00e8be-de-Verceil Church has continued to worsen, compounded by repeated unauthorized entries and the presence of squatters, increasing the risk of further incidents.<\/p>\n","video_url_acf":"","citizen_archive_date":"","citizen_archive_text":"","citizen_alert_repeater":[{"citizen_alert_submitted_by":"Carole-Anne Danis & Melvin Mariampillai","hm_reaction_id":"22ed98407916639c650a3a8fafc45e2cc50a959082cd29c1437803427e68ac55","citizen_alert_date":"20 October 2020","citizen_alert_text":"

Construction of Saint-Eus\u00e8be-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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n"},{"citizen_alert_submitted_by":"","hm_reaction_id":"e063d0a6f33578ef2cd7017a9b4dcff622a50605bad384fa57ced33d6b857313","citizen_alert_date":"","citizen_alert_text":""}],"citizen_update_repeater":[{"citizen_update_title":" Legal proceedings to authorize demolition","citizen_update_url_externe":"","citizen_update_type":"simple","citizen_update_submitted_by":"","citizen_update_date":"15\/01\/2026 12:00 am","citizen_update_text":"

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.<\/p>\n","citizen_update_network":"","hm_reaction_id":"f93e3a04bab78aba8b4cb2db6322934305c83dc08c6233f055d97a9f4f36a074"},{"citizen_update_title":"Major fire at the church","citizen_update_url_externe":"","citizen_update_type":"simple","citizen_update_submitted_by":"","citizen_update_date":"17\/03\/2019 12:00 am","citizen_update_text":"

A major fire, which required the intervention of dozens of firefighters, destroyed the church floor and severely damaged the works of art inside.<\/p>\n","citizen_update_network":"","hm_reaction_id":"18e670c9cb8c71cd894758a1628fe4b7875a20712c1a21aca4e24ab3c693d398"},{"citizen_update_title":"Update on Saint-Eus\u00e8be-de-Verceil","citizen_update_url_externe":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ChristopherMcCray.VM\/posts\/pfbid02E7XstL91QbfmJJo2saggDK9tutv2KjzgyrE5Y4gSWdvcYw8bpFeb7VnVSj5b5Losl","citizen_update_type":"reseaux-sociaux","citizen_update_submitted_by":"Christopher McCray - Conseiller de la Ville","citizen_update_date":"06\/11\/2026 12:00 am","citizen_update_text":"

This summer, the diocese began discussions with the borough about a proposed redevelopment of the Saint-Eus\u00e8be-de-Verceil Church site on Fullum Street.<\/p>\n

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to share a comprehensive update on this important and complex issue.<\/p>\n

The church has been abandoned for more than a decade and has suffered two fires. The City has issued hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and the church has been boarded up since last year to prevent unauthorized entry.<\/p>\n

In January, the diocese filed a lawsuit to force the City to issue a demolition permit. This could have left a vacant lot in the heart of the neighbourhood. This summer, the lawsuit was withdrawn to allow discussions to move forward.<\/p>\n

In August, I met with the project team, who presented the main elements of their proposal:<\/p>\n