Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours

Detail, copper spire of bell tower with smaller side turret; The current stone church of 1771 is built over the ruins of a previous stone chapel. The church also houses a museum dedicated to Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700; canonized in 1982) who rallied the community to build the first (and second) chapel as pilgrimage chapels. The chapel is especially identified with sailors, since the chapel faces the Old Port on the St. Lawrence River. The thirteen stained glass windows detailing the Life of the Virgin were executed by Beaulieu, 1906-1907. The biggest changes to the church's appearance took place between 1886 and 1893, under the direction of architects Perrault and Mesnard. A bell tower with double lanterns, flanked by twin bell turrets, replaced the church's old exterior facade. Inside, the vaulted ceiling was transformed into a barrel arch and Meloche was put to work painting eight scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary in trompe-l'oeil style on the ceiling (rediscovered and restored in 1994). The same artist was hired again in 1892, this time as an architect to design the facade overlooking the port. Meloche's design was truly spectacular for its day: a towering steeple sat atop the apse, which was crowned by thirteen angel statues and the étoile de la mer [the star of the sea], a huge 8-meter statue of the Virgin Mary. Source: Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America [online]; http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/ (accessed 6/15/2015