Church of La Visitation-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie, Historic Catholic church in Sault-au-Récollet, Montreal, Canada.
The Church of La Visitation-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie is a fieldstone church at 1847 Gouin Boulevard East in the Sault-au-Récollet area of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Montreal. Built between 1749 and 1751, it has a Récollet plan without a transept and a narrowed choir. Its cut-stone facade, added between 1850 and 1870 by John Ostell, contrasts with the interior, where a wooden vault and a tabernacle by Philippe Liébert are found.
Construction began around 1749 under priest Guillaume Chambon, using a Recollet plan without a transept and a narrowed choir. First services were held in 1751, and Bishop Henri-Marie du Breil de Pontbriand consecrated the church in 1752. In 1850 the nave was extended by eight metres and a new facade by John Ostell was built, with spires added to the two towers by 1870.
The interior decoration was entrusted to Philippe Liébert, who carved the first pulpit in 1791, the current tabernacle of the main altar in 1792 and the paschal candlestick in 1798. Louis-Amable Quévillon added a churchwardens' pew in 1800, and Vincent Chartrand made the present pulpit in 1836. The doors between sacristy and sanctuary are noted as exceptional, though their maker is unknown.
The church is located at 1847 Gouin Boulevard East in Montreal and welcomes visitors, especially during scheduled services. It is helpful to check ahead for visiting hours and any public tours that may be offered.
The organ rebuilt by Hellmuth Wolff under a contract signed on 23 December 1991 keeps the general architectural lines of the earlier instrument and reuses several ranks from the Warren organ. Its mechanical key and stop action, windchests, blower and fan are new, and a Solid State Logic combination system drives six general and three divisional pistons.
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