Église Saint-Paul Devastated by Fire: A Community Heart Lost

A fierce fire on Monday destroyed the historic Église Saint-Paul in southwestern Montreal, a loss deeply felt by the community. A local history enthusiast describes the church as the heart of a once-thriving village, comparable to Sainte-Catherine Street at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

“With the Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire boarding school and the town hall, Church Street was a hub of industrial activity,” recalls Guy Gélinas, co-founder of the Saint-Paul-Émard Historical Society. He learned of the fire early Monday morning and immediately went to the scene. “Everything is devastated. Total loss,” he shared with reporters, still in shock hours later.

A Century of History Reduced to Ashes

The church, built in 1911, held countless memories of baptisms, weddings, and religious ceremonies. Gélinas fondly remembers visiting the choir loft and playing the still-functional Casavant organ just a few years ago. The loss is particularly poignant given the church’s rich history and architectural significance.

Located on the south shore of the Lachine Canal, near the Côte-Saint-Paul lock and Highway 15, in Montreal’s Southwest borough, the Côte-Saint-Paul neighbourhood is often overshadowed by Saint-Henri and Verdun. However, its history is remarkably rich, earning it recognition from the Ministry of Culture and Communications in 1991.

From Industrial Hub to Historic District

The neighbourhood’s evolution was dramatically shaped by the construction of the Lachine Canal in 1848. Factories quickly established themselves, taking advantage of the waterway and nearby hydroelectric facilities. The area’s industrial past contributed significantly to its unique character.

“A first church was built in the early days of the village, but it was struck by lightning in 1999. The misfortune continued as the new building suffered the same fate eight years later,” explains Gélinas. It wasn’t until 1911 that the imposing Église Saint-Paul was finally completed.

Community Impact and Calls for Preservation

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but it necessitated the evacuation of 150 residents from a nearby seniors’ residence. While deeply saddened by the tragedy, Gélinas urges heritage enthusiasts to take action. “We must preserve what remains before it’s too late,” he implores. He is particularly concerned about the deteriorating condition of the old town hall, located near the destroyed church. Renovations would cost millions of dollars, a significant challenge to secure.

“But we have a collective responsibility! Isn’t our motto ‘Je me souviens’?” he asks, referencing Quebec’s provincial motto, “I remember.”

Learn more about the history of the Lachine Canal: Parks Canada – Lachine Canal National Historic Site