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Inside the Sainte-Jeanne-Chantal Catholic church, Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, 2010

Color photograph, long shot, church interior whose arches and walls are completely covered in white wood panels, in the background, liturgical furnishings and religious artwork, in the foreground, religious furnishings and a varnished wood railing.

The church sanctuary has remained intact since its completion in 1830. Made entirely out of sculpted wood, it is the work of two well-known sculptors of the time. Joseph Turcot (1787-?) carved the altar as well as the sculptural works after the extension of the church in 1812. The five years of renovations set out to embellish architectural elements such as the frieze of the dome, columns and the numerous transepts and bearing points. Louis-Xavier Leprohon (1795-1876) designed and built the wood panels around the sanctuary, rosettes of the dome, medallions, and baptismal elements from 1828 and 1830.

The name of Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal was given to the church in memory of Dame Françoise Cuillerier as she was very devoted to Jeanne Frémyot, baronness of Chantal, widow, mother, and founder of the the Visitandines religious community in France. Her portrait can be seen above the high altar.

The church was classified as a historic monument by the Quebec government in 1961, notably because of its age and the wealth of its interior ornamentation entirely sculpted out of wood.