Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal (Notre-Dame Basilica), at 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest, facing Place d'Armes square, was designed in 1824 by James O'Donnell. At the time of its completion, the Neo-Gothic structure was the largest church in North America. Notre-Dame was raised to the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II during a visit to the city on April 21, 1982.
In 1657, the Roman Catholic Sulpician Order arrived in Ville-Marie, now known as Montreal; six years later the seigneury of the island was vested in them and they ruled until 1840. The parish they founded was dedicated to the Holy Name of Mary, and the parish church of Notre-Dame was built on the site in 1672. By 1824 the congregation had completely outgrown the church, and O'Donnell, an Irish-American Protestant from New York, was commissioned to design the new building. O'Donnell was a proponent of the Gothic Revival architectural movement, and designed the church as such. It is said that the experience affected him so profoundly that he converted to Catholicism prior to his 1930 death. He is the only person to be buried in the church's crypt.
Work on the church's interior continued under the guidance of Victor Bourgeau until 1879. Notre Dame's ceiling is coloured deep blue and decorated with golden stars. It is filled with hundreds of intricate wooden carvings and several religious statues. The main altar is made from a hand-carved linden tree. The stained glass windows depict scenes from the religious history of Montreal, instead of more traditional biblical scenes. It also has a Canadian-built Casavant Frères pipe organ, which comprises four keyboards, 97 stops, almost 7000 individual pipes and a pedal board. A 10-bell carillon resides in the east tower, while the west tower contains a single massive bell. Nicknamed "Le Gros Bourdon," it weighs more than 12 tons and has a low, resonant rumble that vibrates right up through your feet. It is tolled only on special occasions.
Chapelle du Sacré-Coeur (Chapel of the Sacred Heart), a more inimate chapel, was built behind the altar in 1888. A major arson fire destroyed the Sacré-Coeur on December 7, 1978. It was rebuilt and rededicated in 1982. The chapel's new altar feature 32 bronze panels by Montréal artist Charles Daudelin, representing birth, life, and death.
Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal was the site of the 2000 state funeral of Pierre Trudeau, Canada's 15th prime minister, and the 2000 provincial state funeral for former Montreal Canadiens superstar, Maurice "Rocket" "richard. It was also the site for Celine Dion's 1994 wedding to René Angélil.
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