All over Quebec, churches are being put up for sale for lack of funds and congregations to ensure their continued existence. In Quebec, there are 2751 listed places of worship, 165 of which have been demolished and 680 sold and converted.
Churches transformed into climbing centers (vertige), libraries(Magog), hotels (Saint-Crème), restaurants (OMG) and even distilleries like the Magog church, which now houses the gin Cherry River.
Quebec’s churches are coveted for their convenient location. Churches used to be located in the heart of villages to make it easier for the faithful to get to them. The North Hatley church is a perfect example. Located at 5 Main Street in the heart of the village on the corner of the two busiest thoroughfares, Main Street and Capelton Road, where hundreds of people flock every day. Not to mention its magnificent view of Lake Massawippi and the village center. In fact, the view from the church to the lake was listed as one of the most beautiful landscapes in Quebec in the Petit futé guide a few years ago. I discovered it thanks to a visit from my good Belgian friend, who swears by the Petit futé!
The building was constructed in 1895 as the village’s first school, and later served as a trading post for natives and settlers. In 1908, it was purchased by the Baptist congregation and officially became a church. In 1993, it became the North Hatley United Church. In 2010, it became the Inter-Foi spiritual church. Today, the building continues to serve as the Inter-Foi Spiritual Church, despite the owner’s request for a change of vocation.
Plan de zonage de North Hatley.
From my reading of past minutes, the owner of the church has asked to change its vocation in order to meet the current needs of the population. I think this is a very good idea! Moreover, the church is right in the heart of the village’s commercial artery, connected to commercial zones C-3 and C-4, as shown on the zoning map above.
However, the Municipality of North Hatley seems intent on maintaining the church’s vocation as a place of worship. The zoning change is refused in September 2024.
And yet, the site is ideal for housing, a pharmacy, a restaurant, a café or even a medical clinic. The possibilities are endless! More, I think there are at least a dozen private parking lots with this building. Rare in North Hatley!
Unfortunately, space and buildings in the heart of the village are in short supply. I think it’s important to seize this opportunity, especially as it’s the owner of the church himself who wants to change its vocation. So why are we refusing? No doubt the elected representatives have good reasons for refusing. If you know what they are, please feel free to comment on the article.
What’s more, with the arrival of 22 new housing units, supported by commercial space on the second floor, due to open in July 2026 on the land located in the church courtyard, this is an opportunity to revitalize the village. It would be appropriate to give it a vocation better suited to the social and cultural reality of today’s village.
Mayor Marcella Guerrish has stated in the media that :
“This proposal guarantees us desperately needed housing and shops” in an article in the February 13, 2025 issue of Reflet du lac.
But I’m confident that all this has been taken into account in the new master plan, which will be presented to citizens in September. Admittedly, this isn’t the first master plan to see the light of day in North Hatley.
On that note, let’s pray for change!
