By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The historic St. James Church in Hatley has received a significant boost in its restoration efforts thanks to a $528,000 grant from the Quebec government. This funding, announced on Aug. 23, by Gilles Bélanger, the MNA for Orford, represents about 40 per cent of the total funds required to complete the project, according to Peter Provencher, head of the restoration project.

The grant comes as part of a broader initiative by the provincial government to preserve Quebec’s religious heritage. This year alone, 83 places of worship across the province will benefit from $25 million in funding. The funding for St. James Church was allocated through two Quebec programs aimed at protecting, transmitting, and revitalizing cultural heritage with a religious character.

Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, underscored in a recent release the importance of preserving these historic buildings, stating, “Old buildings such as churches are important witnesses to our history and contribute significantly to Quebec’s distinctive architecture.”

Provencher welcomed the government support but acknowledged that further funding is still necessary to fully restore the church. “It’s about 40 per cent of what we need in total,” he explained in an interview on August 26. He also provided updates on the progress made so far. Stained glass windows have already been removed and sent to a workshop in Quebec City, where they are being restored by a specialist who has worked on prominent Quebec cathedrals and government buildings.

Looking ahead, Provencher outlined the next phases of the restoration. The foundation will undergo drainage work, the basement floor will be sealed, and damaged support beams will be repaired. The new siding for the building is expected to be installed in 2025.

Local fundraising efforts have also contributed to the project, including a recent fashion show that raised $6,000. Provencher expressed gratitude for the volunteers, stating, “Volunteers did a great job… it’s a heck of a lot of work to put a thing like that together.” Although the church’s remote location presents challenges, Provencher said the picturesque setting makes it ideal for spring and summer events.

The project team is not solely relying on provincial funding. Provencher mentioned that they have applied for federal support through Heritage Canada and have also sought assistance from the Memphremagog MRC. As they move forward, he emphasized the importance of public support, noting, “We’re going to start fundraising at large directly… I think we’re on track to probably collect the monies we need for stage one for sure.”