Low Down Articles
150 Years of History in the Hills
Article 11 of 24
This article first appeared in the "150 Years of History in the Hills" column in the May 31, 2017 issue of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
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This is the eleventh in a continuing series of photo essays celebrating our Gatineau Valley history and heritage during Canada's sesquicentennial year. The series was created by the Gatineau Valley Historical Society, in collaboration with The Low Down to Hull and Back News; parishioners with Old Chelsea's St. Stephen's Church prepared this article.
The church, the steeple, the people
It's like spotting an old friend when you are driving late on a stormy night and the towering steeple of St. Stephen's Church in Old Chelsea comes into view. There is something comforting about seeing that steeple, even for folks who live elsewhere. That steeple seems to have been there forever. It's a sturdy, secure constant in what is otherwise an ever-changing world.
St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Parish was founded in 1840 by the Bishop of Lower Canada and originally served 130 families primarily of Irish origin. The stone church on Old Chelsea Road was completed in 1883, replacing a smaller wooden structure. Built primarily from donated wood and stone, the church shows the influence of both Baroque and Quebecois parish architecture.
The bell and steeple, so wellknown today, were added in 1895. The interior of the church is painted with ceiling and wall frescoes and has 13 large stained glass windows, including one of the church's patron saint, Stephen. The cemetery to the east of the church reveals names of many well-known Chelsea families including Hendrick, Kelly, Mulvihill, Dufour, Dunlop, and Ryan.
St. Stephen's Church and its grounds have always served as a community gathering place. The site of annual horse pulls and church festivals gave way to community fairs and more recently the Chelsea market. The acoustics inside the church have supported many a classical concert and the annual Christmas ecumenical service celebrated by Chelsea's Catholic, Anglican and United Church parishes. Many of the church's current francophone and anglophone parishioners are also community volunteers.
Residents and visitors who would like to discover the church's interior can do so on Saturday June 3, 2017, as part of the municipality's Chelsea Days. They can also visit the renovated former rectory next door which houses La Fab, the Chelsea arts, cultural and heritage centre.
This spring St. Stephen's launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for major restoration work to the roof, masonry, windows and foundation. By raising at least $80,000, the parish will secure a matching grant of over $168,000 from the province. To learn more about how to help preserve this historic landmark please visit www.st-stephen.ca.
