For French Canadians, the transition from the French Regime to the British regime, from 1760 to 1790, was marked by a sense of uncertainty with respect to the future. Given this situation, the inhabitants of the former French colony withdrew into themselves. During this period, the traditional architecture created during the French regime was developed.
Few English architects set up business in the country before 1790. Several French engineers, contractors and architects left the colony. The tradesmen remained here and passed their trades and knowledge on to apprentices. These tradesmen, however, were not very innovative.
The models implemented under the French regime (Jesuit plan, Récollet plan and Maillou plan) continued to dominate. The dimensions of the churches changed since the population grew rapidly (it tripled in 30 years). A new feature appeared and quickly became popular: the construction of an exterior vestry. In the past, the vestry was located in the choir rotunda.
Between 1790 and 1820, prosperity in the parishes, which grew out of the commercial development of wood and agricultural products, resulted in the construction of new religious buildings. English architecture made several inroads, but the traditional architecture of the French Regime continued to dominate in the building of churches.
During this time, Palladianism appeared. Several public buildings were erected in keeping with the spirit of this architectural trend. Palladian architecture had to be adapted to the climate, the human resources available and the materials available in the colony.
| Palladianism Architectural trend that developed in England in the XVIIIth century. It celebrated the renewal of shapes from Antiquity in constructions with a neoclassical style. The cornerstone of Palladianism was a search for harmony in volumes with a focus on geometric shapes. Close this window |
Palladianism was most unsuitable for the restoration of old churches. This was partially responsible for the persistence of the traditional architecture of the former regime. This architecture also continued to dominate because Roman Catholic religious authorities wanted to affirm the uniqueness of French Canada. The influence of English architecture had no significant impact on religious architecture.
The priest for Boucherville, Abbé Conefroy, a skilled builder, codified a large amount of data concerning the construction of churches. This codification is called the Conefroy description. It was behind the standardization of the architecture of parish churches in about 1800.
| Conefroy description Abbé Conefroy, the priest for Boucherville, had his church built in 1801. For this church, he adapted the traditional architecture to the needs of the time. In his plan, he noted a great deal of information about the construction of churches. This was a sort of recipe book that focused on economy and planning in the construction of a church. The Boucherville church was the first model. Close this window |
| Neoclassicism Quebec neoclassicism brings together adherence to tradition, inspiration from the great models and a search for rigor in composition. It was best expressed by Thomas Baillargé, an architect who was born in Quebec City in 1791. He was responsible for several works, including the plans for the first parliament of Quebec. Close this window |
| Abbé Jérôme Demers Quebec priest and architect born in 1774. Professor of science and architecture, he served as the director and later the superior of the Petit Séminaire de Québec. Following this, Abbé Demers served as the vicar general of the Diocese of Quebec. He passed away in 1853. Thomas Baillargé was one of his students. Close this window |
To learn more about a very original Quebec church, we invite you to come back on February 6, 2007.
Sources:
NOPPEN, Luc. Les églises du Québec (1600-1850), Québec, Fides, 1977, pp. 3-28.
BÉDARD, Hélène. Maisons et églises du Québec XVIIe, XVIIIe, XIXe siècles, Québec, Ministère des affaires culturelles du Québec, 1971, pp. 29-47.
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