Houses of Worship
This innovative ongoing project related to the Houses of Worship aims to find new uses for underused portions of the Houses of Worship (community uses or other).
The main objective of this project is to determine an appropriate future for the Houses of Worship in Westmount. Each church or synagogue within the city has been inventoried and visited by members of the Local Heritage Council (LHC). A Value Statement (Statement of Significance) is crafted in collaboration with each congregation, to identify the heritage values and their associated character-defining elements (ex. woodwork, stained-glass windows, etc.). After this information gathering phase is ended, the LHC will provide recommendations to City Council for zoning changes to encourage community and revenue-generating uses, which will be complementary to the religious institution’s mission and acceptable to the surrounding community.
House of Worship – By-laws for a sustainable future (Press release – May 2019)
Plan of new zones around places of worship
Consultation on Westmount’s houses of worship: results of the online survey
Value Statements
Ascension of Our Lord
The Ascension of Our Lord, Westmount’s first English Catholic church, was constructed in 1928 on land purchased from the Grey Nuns. The architects of the neo-Gothic stone building were E.J. Turcotte, Magennis & Walsh of Boston.
Bethel Gospel Chapel
Bethel Gospel Chapel, built in neo-Romanesque brick style in 1893 on Western Avenue at the corner of Olivier, changed its name to Westmount Baptist Church in 1902. Then, the premises on De Maisonneuve were taken over by the Seventh-day Adventists. Since 1972, Bethel Gospel Chapel has occupied the building.
Church House of Prayer for all Nations
The Church of the Advent is Westmount’s oldest surviving religious building. It was begun as a mission of St. James the Apostle, opened in 1892 on Western at the corner of Wood. The neo-Gothic brick building by architects Cox and Amos was originally named the ‘Chapel of Ease’ by the High Anglican congregation. During the 1890s, it was twice enlarged. It is now occupied by the House of Prayer of All Nations.
Congregation Shaar Hashomayim
Shaar Hashomayim, an Orthodox congregation, opened its doors on Côte St. Antoine Road at the corner of Kensington in 1922. Melville Miller was the architect, combining middle eastern domes with classical details. In 1967, a major expansion was undertaken. The Shaar is the oldest and largest Ashkenazi congregation in Canada.
Serbian Orthodox Church
The non-drinkers moved to Melville Church, a neo-Gothic brick building designed by Edward Maxwell, on Elgin Avenue (which was renamed Melville Avenue in its honour). The building was taken over by the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1976.
Mountainside United Church
In 1914, the Dominion Methodist Church moved into a modest hall on Roslyn Avenue. Massive neo-Gothic Dominion Douglas United Church by American architects Badgley & Nicklas was constructed adjacent to the first building in 1927, after a merger with Douglas Methodist. In 1985 members of St. Andrew’s United and in 2004 members of Erskine and American Church joined the congregation. As a result of these amalgamations, the church was renamed Mountainside United Church.
Saint-Léon-de-Westmount Church
In 1901, the first Catholic church in Westmount, Saint-Léon-de-Westmount, was built on farmland purchased from the Grey Nuns. The design of the neo-Romanesque style exterior and the radical modifications made in 1920 are the work of architect G.A. Monette. The interior decoration was carried out in the 1920s by Italian-born artist Guido Nincheri. The interior of Saint-Léon was declared a National Historic Site in 1997.
St. Matthias Anglican Church
In 1875 Westmount’s first church, AnglicanSt. Matthias’, opened its doors. The white clapboard building stood above Côte St. Antoine Road at the corner of today’s Church Hill Avenue on land donated by Mrs. R.T. Raynes at the corner of her ‘Forden’ estate.
In 1912 the wooden church was replaced by a stone building designed by Ross & MacFarlane in the neo-Gothic style. The original structure continued to be used as a parish hall by the Anglican congregation for many years. A bell from the first church sits on the lawn today.
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom
In 1911 Westmount’s Jewish community established its first synagogue, Temple Emanu-El on Sherbrooke Street at the corner of Elm Avenue. The founders were followers of Reform Judaism. The Byzantine Revival building by the firm Hutchison, Wood & Miller was destroyed by fire in 1957. It was completely rebuilt in 1960. Today it is the oldest Liberal Reform synagogue in Canada and it remains Montreal’s only reform synagogue.
Westmount Baptist Church
Grace Baptist Church was built in brick in 1893, in the neo-Romanesque style on Western Avenue at the corner of Olivier Avenue. In 1902, the church changed its name to Westmount Baptist Church. The premises located on De Maisonneuve Boulevard were taken over by the Seventh-day Adventists. Since 1972, Bethel Gospel Chapel has occupied the building. In 1925, Westmount Baptist Church moved to a "Beaux-Arts" style building designed by Sydney Comber, located at the intersection of Sherbrooke Street and Roslyn Avenue.
Westmount Park United Church
Westmount Park United Church, designed by architect A. Leslie Perry and built of stone in the neo-Gothic style, took its place in 1929 after Church Union. In 1961 the congregation of Calvary Church joined, followed by that of Melville Presbyterian.
Westmount Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Stanley Presbyterian Church was built in brick on Westmount Avenue at the corner of Victoria Avenue in 1913. The building was designed by Hutchison, Wood & Miller in a neo-Byzantine style with a dome and round arches. The Seventh-day Adventists have occupied the premises since 1972.
