Religious Heritage has grown BIG. The Bury Historical & Heritage Society used to organize an annual one-day open house of churches in the area. Now it’s a three-day affair, the weekend of September 7-8, and 180 churches across Quebec are participating in the seventh edition of the Religious Heritage Days.

In the Haut-Saint-François, 11 churches, many that have turned museum or cultural centre, are participating. They offer a variety of tours, exhibits, and other activities. Admission is free. So here’s your tour, starting down east, then arcing back to Sawyerville.

CHALMERS OF GOULD
Chalmers Church, built in 1891, was named after Thomas Chalmers, famous Presbyterian preacher of the Free Kirk of Scotland. In the 1970s, it was moved from Route 257 to 17 Route 108, in Gould (Lingwick). Unusually clad in red brick, it is now one of three venues of the Oscar-Dhu Cultural Centre. Visitors are welcome Sunday, September 8, from 1 to 4 p.m.
CANTERBURY CENTRE
Canterbury Centre, 1095 Victoria Road (Route 214), Bury. This little white church-turned-cultural-centre with flying buttresses was built in 1896. This jewel in the crown of the Bury Historical & Heritage Society is open Saturday 12 to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., exhibiting watercolours and drawings―landscapes, portraits, and more―by painter John Ward, born in England and residing in Lingwick.
UNITED CULTURAL CENTRE
In downtown Bury at 560 Main Street, this erstwhile church is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and offers guided tours, English tea, and on September 6 at 4 p.m., a musical show by Chloé Fortier. It was built in 1897.
SAINT JOHN’S
This ancient little Anglican church known as Brookbury Church, at 170 Route 255 N., in Bury―now called Batley Road―was built in the 1840s by architect John Baxter. In the cemetery surrounding it is a tombstone dated 1845. The church is open for visits on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and has a Sunday service on September 8, at 10 a.m.
BISHOPTON UNITED
Built in 1899 by Milan Bishop, builder, and Oscar A. Bishop, engineer, this church at 203 Main Street, Dudswell, is in a Victorian neo-gothic style and has a distinctive bell tower and wood-panelled interior. It is open to visitors Friday and Saturday, 7 to 10 p.m., with a soloist singing at 7 p.m.
SAINT-ADOLPHE
Built in 1897, once a Catholic church, now a museum, Saint-Adolphe at 191 Principale East, Dudswell, is open Friday, 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Besides the exquisite building and artefacts, it also exhibits wooden models of historical rural scenes by Louis-Emile Beauregard of Dudswell.
SAINT-LOUIS-DE-FRANCE
This imposing stone Catholic church at 166 Saint-Jean East in East Angus, built in the 1920s, has gorgeous stained-glass windows. It is open Saturday, 1 to 3:30 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m., with an organ concert on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
SAINT PETER’S
Built in 1869, this intriguing stone structure at 45 Principale West, Cookshire, is an Anglican church. Visiting hours are Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. A Sunday service is on September 1st, at 9 a.m.
TRINITY UNITED
Built in 1860 at 190 Principale West, Cookshire, by Albert Haseltine, the Trinity United Church is open for visits on Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. The September 1st Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. (A Sunday service on September 8 will be 10:30 a.m. at the Sawyerville United Church.)
Also on September 8 at 2 p.m., the Trinity United Church celebrates its 161st anniversary with a concert by Jim Robinson, Sue Fowler, and Ronnie Hazeltine. Refreshments are to be served at the intermission, and, Rev. Tami Spires says, “Donations are gratefully accepted at the door.” Finally, on Sunday, September 15, the Trinity United Church’s 161st Anniversary Worship Service is planned for 10:30 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
EATON CORNER
In a former congregationalist church, built in 1840, the Eaton Corner Museum at 374 Route 253 offers a permanent exhibit recounting the history of Compton County. It is open Friday, September 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.
SAWYERVILLE BAPTIST
In downtown Sawyerville at 33 Cookshire Street (Route 253), the Sawyerville Baptist Church was built in 1889, and is open for visits on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., with an exhibit of historical photos and refreshments. Sunday services are in French at 9 a.m. and in English at 11 a.m. Info: Pastor Michel Houle, 819-889-2819.
This Quebec-wide event is organized by the Quebec Religious Heritage Council. Info: journeesdupatrimoinereligieux.ca.
A FOOT IN TWO WORLDS
Relation entre deux mondes (Relationship Between Two Worlds) is the title of an exhibition by artist Sylvie Cadorette that offers 16 artworks inspired by experiences of six persons who immigrated to Quebec from Rwanda, Colombia, Cameroon, Italy, and Croatia. A jury selected this show as part of the International Association for Intercultural Research at Université Laval in June 2023. Now Cadorette’s art has come to the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery, 125 Principale West, where it is on exhibit in the Salle Suzanne-Genest until October 6. The Gallery is open Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
BROOKBURY HALL
Brookbury Hall hosts a garage sale on Saturday, September 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 571 Brookbury Road (aka Route 255). Info: Brenda Bailey, 819-884-5984.
VIACTIVE
The season for Viactive is at hand, including the two bilingual groups, meeting Wednesdays in Sawyerville and Newport. Starting September 18, France Demers and Lyne Maisonneuve will lead the Newport Viactive group at 1:30 p.m., at the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, Island Brook. Info: 819-889-1340.
Viactive Sawyerville recommences next week, on September 4, at 10 a.m. Gérard and Denise Nault facilitate the sessions in the basement of the Saint-Rosaire Catholic Church, 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville. Info: 819-889-2630.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by August 29 for publication September 11.