Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Quebec's Oldest Stone Church

Revering their sacred religious principles, the early European settlers made sure their new Canadian
home sites included places for worship. One of the oldest French stone churches still standing is
Leglise Ntre-Dame-des-Victoires in Quebec City.Church of Champlains Habitation
On land granted by the Governor and Administrator of New France, Bishop Francois de Laval and
the residents of Samuel de Champlains Habitation built the first Leglise Ntre-Dame-des-Victoires at
Place-Royale in 1688. (Now Quebec City, the Habitation was first settled in 1608.) Designed by
Claude Baillif, the plans included a small chapel for worship and a rectory overlooking the market.
Initially named Enfant-Jesus, the stone church was then renamed Ntre-Dame-de-la-Victoire (Our
Lady of the Victory) in 1690, said Luc Noppen and Lucy K. Morisset of the University of Quebec's
coverage of organ music in Quebec. The building then received the title of Leglise Ntre-Dame-ds-Victoires, Our Lady of Victories, in 1711 after the shipwrecking of British Admiral Hovender
Walkers attacking fleet in the St. Lawrence River.

In the ten years from 1723 to 1733, the church was enlarged with the construction of the St.
Genevieve Chapel, a nave, portal and vestry, all drawn by architect Jean Maillou. The vestry was
rebuilt in 1873 and is still in use today, according to Noppen and Morisset.
Church Burned and Rebuilt Mid-1700s
Disaster struck in 1759 when Leglise Ntre-Dame-des-Victoires was badly burned during the historic

siege of Quebec when the French were overpowered by the British. The church building was
reconstructed over the next seven years. Forty years later, it underwent the first of several more
restorations. Threatened with demolition in the early 1800s, the citizens wanted to remove the
church to enlarge the market area, but the church held strong. In 1858, construction began on a
new steeple and exterior improvements.
The interior of Leglise Ntre-Dame-des-Victoires was enhanced with beautiful, classic murals and
statues, much of the works produced by the students of Thomas Baillairg. (Baillairg was a prominent
Quebec artist, wood carver and architect of the early to mid-1800s. He trained a number of students
in the skills of his craft.) The striking paintings are on both sides of the altars; frescoes featuring the
history of the city and the church were added in 1888, created by Jean-M. Tardivel.

Ntre-Dame-des-Victoires an Historic Monument

One of Canada's oldest standing churches, the elegant Catholic church was also deemed an historic
monument in 1929 by Quebecs Historic Monuments Commission. The honour confirmed the
building's status as the oldest stone church in the province. Located in the old section of the city at
32, Rue sous le Fort, Quebec City, Quebec, Leglise Ntre-Dame-des-Victoires is open for tours from
May to October.
Visit the website of Leglise Ntre-Dame-des-Victoires to view the church and others in historic
Quebec.
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