St. Matthew鈥檚 Church, Quebec City
Saint Matthew鈥檚 Church (脡glise Saint-Matthew) is a historic Anglican church that today houses the Claire-Martin Library. Built in 1870, the church replaced an earlier chapel that had served the growing English-speaking community of Qu茅bec. Designed in the Gothic Revival style, the stone building features pointed arches, stained-glass windows, and a modest bell tower鈥攁rchitectural details typical of 19th-century Anglican churches. The adjacent St. Matthew鈥檚 Cemetery, established in 1772, is one of the oldest burial grounds in the city, resting place of many prominent figures from Qu茅bec鈥檚 early British period.
After nearly a century of religious service, the church鈥檚 congregation dwindled, and Saint Matthew鈥檚 Church was officially deconsecrated in 1979. Rather than allow the building to fall into disrepair, the City of Qu茅bec chose to preserve its heritage by transforming it into a public library, which opened in 1980. The adaptive reuse project kept the original stone walls, arched windows, and wooden beams intact, creating one of the most atmospheric reading spaces in the city鈥攚here books now line the former pews and sunlight filters through historic stained glass.
Today, the Claire-Martin Library is both a cultural hub and a heritage landmark. Visitors are welcome to explore the serene interior, wander among the surrounding gravestones shaded by old trees, and reflect on the site鈥檚 layered history.
After nearly a century of religious service, the church鈥檚 congregation dwindled, and Saint Matthew鈥檚 Church was officially deconsecrated in 1979. Rather than allow the building to fall into disrepair, the City of Qu茅bec chose to preserve its heritage by transforming it into a public library, which opened in 1980. The adaptive reuse project kept the original stone walls, arched windows, and wooden beams intact, creating one of the most atmospheric reading spaces in the city鈥攚here books now line the former pews and sunlight filters through historic stained glass.
Today, the Claire-Martin Library is both a cultural hub and a heritage landmark. Visitors are welcome to explore the serene interior, wander among the surrounding gravestones shaded by old trees, and reflect on the site鈥檚 layered history.
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St. Matthew鈥檚 Church on Map
Sight Name: St. Matthew鈥檚 Church
Sight Location: Quebec City, Canada (See walking tours in Quebec City)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Quebec City, Canada (See walking tours in Quebec City)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Quebec City, Quebec
Create Your Own Walk in Quebec City
Creating your own self-guided walk in Quebec City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Houses Walking Tour
Quebec City, particularly evocative of Europe in its atmosphere, is often referred to as the cradle of New France. The city boasts one of the richest architectural heritages in North America, though most of its buildings had to be adapted to harsh winters and the lack of specialized workers and materials in the colony. As such, the majority of local houses were designed as simple and efficient... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Quebec City Introduction Walking Tour
Cresting a cliff above the St. Lawrence River, Qu茅bec City (French: Ville de Qu茅bec) is the soul of the province of Qu茅bec 鈥� a place all its own; a country within a country with its own traditions, architecture, and French-speaking population.
The Algonquian people had originally named the area K茅bec, which means "where the river narrows", because the Saint Lawrence River... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Algonquian people had originally named the area K茅bec, which means "where the river narrows", because the Saint Lawrence River... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Old Quebec Walk
The historic part of Quebec City known as Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Qu茅bec), sometimes also referred to as the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin), is the neighborhood centered around Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant), located on the eastern edge of Quebec hill promontory. The area comprises Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (Basse-Ville) and is currently listed among UNESCO鈥檚 World Heritage Sites.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Qucbec City's Historical Churches Walking Tour
The first religious buildings in Canada were established by the R茅collets and Jesuits, in 1615 and 1625, respectively, when they first arrived in New France. Later on, the French colonists brought along their culture and architectural traditions, and the establishment of British and evangelical society triggered further major developments in Quebec City.
Over the course of the 17th and 18th... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Over the course of the 17th and 18th... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles