In Quebec, a historic church will be converted into a cultural and tourist center

The Canadian government is allocating $250,000 for a major renovation of the historic Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Quebec City to transform the building into a community, cultural, and tourism hub. According to Christian Today, the church, built in the 1880s, was closed for worship services in 2015 due to a decline in the number of parishioners and the inability to maintain the building in proper condition.

In 2024, the city of Quebec purchased the property for $175,000. The project is being funded through the government’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. The renovation plan includes reinforcing the foundation, completely replacing the electromechanical systems, and updating the building’s doors and windows. Once the work is complete, the church will serve as a venue for exhibitions, cultural events, and tourist gatherings; however, there are no plans to use the building for religious services.

Melissa Coulomb-Ledyak, a member of the city’s executive committee, emphasized that the project’s goal is not only to preserve historical heritage but also to meet the modern needs of local communities. It is worth noting that the issue of vacant religious buildings is not unique to Canada: similar processes are taking place in the United Kingdom, where, for example, the 800-year-old cathedral in Brechin was transferred to the management of a local nonprofit organization due to a lack of funds for its upkeep.