Ever felt the weight of history? Right here before you stands the Musée des métiers d’art du Québec. Formerly known as the Musée des maîtres et artisans du Québec this remarkable museum holds a captivating story. It began its life not as a museum but as a church. The original St Paul’s Presbyterian Church stood at the present site of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
In 1867 a Presbyterian English Community built the High Victorian Gothic church. Its polychrome brickwork and decorative stonework were truly unique. However in 1930 the Canadian National Railway expropriated the land. The church was slated for demolition.
But fate intervened. Allan Bray a former student of Saint-Laurent College negotiated with the railway. He secured the church for the symbolic sum of one dollar. The church was carefully deconstructed piece by piece. Every brick every window every piece of wood was numbered and carefully cataloged.
Within two months it was transported to its new location at Saint-Laurent College. Architect Lucien Parent oversaw the meticulous reconstruction. It reopened as the college chapel. Later in 1979 the chapel transformed into a museum.
The museum’s first collection came from Father Joseph-Celestin Carrier a Victorian-era collector. His collection included around 500 objects that survived and became the heart of the museum’s founding collection. Gerard Lavallée a professor at the college added over 3000 pieces enriching the collection. His acquisitions took advantage of Quebecers’ rejection of religious objects allowing him to buy many at low prices. Further additions came from notable donors like Jean Palardy and Jean-Marie Gauvreau.
Today the Musée des métiers d’art du Québec boasts a collection of over 14000 objects. These include domestic crafts and works of art from Quebec’s master artisans. The museum offers educational programs and family workshops showcasing the ingenuity of Quebec’s craftspeople. Its unique High Victorian Gothic architecture itself serves as a testament to the skill of past artisans. The building’s story mirrors that of the objects within a tribute to Quebec’s rich artistic heritage. Step inside. Discover the stories waiting within the Musée des métiers d’art du Québec.