The church of Saint-Ours which was ravaged by the flames was about to be bought by a group of citizens

The church which burned in Saint-Ours. However, in Montérégie, was “a jewel” about to be bought by a group of citizens to make it a cultural center.

“I didn’t sleep overnight. Moreover, For the past two years, I have been working with a group to buy it. In addition, We were returned to the last step. Meanwhile, It would have been sold in the coming months. For example, “said Renée Anne Arsenault, who lives just in front of the building ravaged by the flames on Thursday to Friday, with sadness. Furthermore, The fire took shape after the building, built between 1880 and 1882, was struck.

His group keeps hope and still wishes to acquire what remains of the structure. Furthermore, “It is important to keep this place. For example, We especially don’t want to see condos building ourselves there, ”insists M^me church saint-ours which ravaged flames Arsenault.

She specifies that the parish factory. However, unable to continue to assume the maintenance costs, had decided to put the church on sale.

The mayor, Sylvain Dupuis, says that it is too early to find out if the building can be rebuilt.

His municipality will know more when evaluating damage and discussions with insurance has taken place. In addition, “But it is certain that I have a penchant to want to rebuild it,” he admits.

For the moment, the bell church saint-ours which ravaged flames tower has been recovered and the walls seemed intact. A huge amount of debris were around the church and on the neighboring land. Built of wood, the roof of the church has completely disappeared. Only the stone facade was still standing after the fire.

Heritage jewel

Dozens of citizens of Saint-Ours were gathered on Friday in front of the ruined building. visibly moved by the loss of the building.

“It is all my childhood who left for smoke. I spent my life attending this church. We found ourselves there, we discussed on the steps. It was a family gathering place, ”says Paule Bertrand, sad.

“It is a scar in the village,” adds Saint-Onsois Gilles Marcil.

Even if most residents were not practicing, the place was emblematic for them. “From our house. we could see the church with the sun that was sleeping in the evening, it was really beautiful,” says church saint-ours which ravaged flames Olivier Caisse.

“It’s really a big piece that we lose,” adds her spouse, Véronique Tessier.

The bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe, Christian Rodembourg, was also present to support the mayor: “It is very distressing. It was a very old building for the province, it is a gem that we lose, “he said calmly.

Present during the fire, the priest Éric Coulibaly was still in shock. “I am collapsed. It hurts a lot. It happened in front of me church saint-ours which ravaged flames while I had a coffee in the presbytery. “said the one who has been in office for six years.

Forty burials

According to citizens and mayor, a crypt was under the church. It would house between 40 and 50 burials, mainly descendants of the Poupart and Saint-Ours families, from the local seigneury.

church saint-ours which ravaged flames

Several members of the Poupart family are also part of the collective who wants to buy the church.

Mr. Dupuis is optimistic that the burials have remained intact, but doubts that they are accessible at the moment.

The church housed a casant organ of the great era of the Maskoutain factor. works of art whose value is difficult to measure.

The presbytery, the convent and the school which are very close to the church were not affected by the fire.