Montreal (Rajeev Sharma): An abandoned Catholic church in Montreal has become the centre of a legal battle, as church authorities move the court seeking permission to demolish the deteriorating structure, citing serious safety risks, repeated vandalism and mounting financial pressure.
The long-shuttered St-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church, once a prominent place of worship, now stands barricaded behind plywood fencing marked with graffiti and handwritten messages. Among them is a poem lamenting the church’s decay—an expression that reflects the concerns of officials who say the building has reached a point of no return.
Years of neglect, unauthorized intrusions and a major fire in 2019 have left the church structurally unstable. Urban explorers and teenagers, often chasing social media attention, have repeatedly broken into the premises despite extensive security measures. Father Roger Dufresne, the 77-year-old priest associated with the parish, said intruders regularly force their way inside to film videos and perform risky stunts.
Inside the vast sanctuary, the damage is extensive. Debris, bird droppings and broken furniture cover the floor, while the church organ has been ripped apart. Statues have been vandalized, graffiti lines the walls and pigeons have taken over the space that once welcomed nearly a thousand worshippers. The building’s paint was destroyed during the fire and never restored, further accelerating decay.
According to court documents filed on January 7, the parish has not used the main church hall since 2009. Since then, multiple redevelopment efforts have failed due to high restoration costs and city-imposed constraints. The parish claims it has spent over $100,000 securing the site since 2017, yet has still been fined more than $219,000 by the city over safety and structural violations.
An engineering assessment conducted after the fire estimated that restoring the church would cost more than $50 million. The report concluded that complete demolition was the most practical solution, citing economic infeasibility and ongoing safety concerns.
The City of Montreal has declined to comment on the legal proceedings, and no court date has been set. However, officials from the Montreal Catholic archdiocese say emergency services are often reluctant to enter the building, creating serious risks as trespassers continue to access the site.
Stefano Marrone, who oversees the archdiocese’s real estate operations, said uncertainty over preservation requirements has discouraged potential developers. He added that demolition approval could help clear the way for redevelopment, possibly into a mixed-use project that includes housing and community facilities. The church hopes to remain involved, potentially continuing services in a renovated presbytery.
Experts say the situation reflects a broader challenge across Quebec. With declining congregations and reduced government funding for religious heritage preservation, many churches are struggling to find sustainable futures. Religious studies scholar Solange Lefebvre noted that while Quebec has historically repurposed churches successfully, rising renovation costs now make demolition unavoidable in some cases—especially for large structures.
Father Dufresne believes redevelopment for housing would better serve current community needs. With fewer than a dozen regular worshippers attending services in a small adjoining chapel, he says difficult decisions are necessary. “We have to accept the reality of our times,” he said, acknowledging that not all historic churches can be saved.
