Saint-Eustache Church is a Roman Catholic place of worship in the heart of the town of Saint-Eustache, Quebec, located at the confluence of the Mille Îles and Du Chêne rivers, northwest of the island of Montreal and Île Jésus. It played a central role in the decisive Battle of Saint-Eustache, which was fought on 14 December 1837 and marked the end of the 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion. In this colonial conflict, the rebels or patriotes rose up to challenge the powers of the British governor and his advisors.
During the battle, which opened on the heels of an initial British victory in Saint-Charles, British forces and government supporters led by Sir John Colborne, confronted Patriote combatants. Artillery scars left in the stonework of Saint-Eustache Church as a result of the battle, the building silhouette, and the church’s location are all visual reminders of the fateful event.
The architecture of Saint-Eustache Church mirrors trends in vernacular religious architecture in Quebec through the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Its massive décor is a fine example of the influence of neoclassicism in the early 19th century, with its twin spires on either side, each topped with a belfry containing double lanterns. Behind this décor rises a church much altered since it was originally constructed.
It was built in 1780-83 on a Latin cross plan with a semicircular apse. The building was extended forward 8.5 metres (28 feet) when the present décor was added in 1831-33. After being heavily damaged by fire in 1837, the envelope was rebuilt several times, most recently when major work was undertaken in 1905-07. The aisles were extended, the sacristy was rebuilt, and a chapel was built behind the church; the entire roof was replaced at the same time. On the front, the bell towers were replaced, and the peak of the new roof was hidden by adding a small triangular pediment surmounted by a statue of Saint Eustace.
Saint-Eustache Church has become a powerful symbol of the history of the Patriotes and the rebellions of 1837; it now occupies an important place in popular imagination.
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