This weekend is the first Églises Ouvertes in which 28 city churches are holding open house for all or part of the weekend. Most are Roman Catholic, but there’s also Christ Church on Ste‑Catherine and St John the Evangelist (the red roof church) on President-Kennedy, which are Anglican, and St James United and St Jax, also on Ste‑Catherine.
I’m not at all religious, but it can be interesting to see the interior of these buildings, especially ones you walk past all the time but have never seen inside. This is where many Montrealers put their wealth and hopes and dreams for generations and it’s worth having a look.
My favourite church for surprising oblivious locals is the Sanctuaire du St-Sacrement directly east of Mont-Royal metro. It’s always open and it’s a gem. It’s not even obviously a church, because the frontage looks more like a convent building. The church is there, though. It’s a thing. But it’s not on the list for this event.
On the list, the ones I’ve been inside that I think most worth seeing are St Michael’s on St‑Viateur, which is sui generis here in its Byzantine dome style, and St Patrick’s – tall and narrow, somewhat austere in its monochromicity, not relying on a riot of colours as some do. Historically, the most interesting is the Visitation in Ahuntsic, the oldest church still standing on the island.
Some of the modern ones have a sci-fi vibe.
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