Sainte-Cècile Church, nicknamed the Candy Church, is an unassuming small wooden church on the outside. Once you enter though, it’s one of the most unique churches anywhere. The church has excellent acoustics and is the home of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival, the oldest Baroque music festival in Canada. My photos simply don’t do this church justice. The folk art and colors are incredible. I was really moved spending time there. Take my advise and add this church to your travel bucket list. I believe the door is always open, like how churches in Europe used to be.
History:
Construction of Sainte-Cècile Church began in 1910 and was completed in 1913. The building is made of pine from Columbia. The pillars, columns, lateral pews and alters were painted in trompe l’œil ( imitation wood grain). But with time, the linseed oil darkened and turned a lot of the church an almost black color. Instead of cleaning it, Reverend Gérard d’Astous chose to paint over everything, using his great imagination. He began supervising the painting on November 11, 1968 with help from Paul Gauvin of Petit-Lamèque and Léonce Lanteigne of Pointe-Alexandre. By December, most of the church had been repainted. And Reverend d’Astous finished the work himself by the Spring of 1969. Since then though, the lateral pews and altars have been repainted, masking the original folk art.
Folk Art Painting:
Trees are painted on the lower part of the walls representing the earth and blue was painted on of the upper walls represent the sea. The two pillars make reference to the local economy. The ceiling features little crosses arranged in star-like groups against a misty-blue background that represent life’s hardships and the end of human life when the soul is separated from the body. The balloons and birthday cakes on the blue ceiling symbolizes a blessed eternity and the reward promised to those who remained faithful and obeyed the Commandments.
My thanks goes to Vivie for showing me this church and for showing me so many other sights in New Brunswick! Can’t wait to get back!
A beautiful small church. I’m pretty sure you won’t read about it in a travel guide, but which a local like Vivie would know about. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
A while back, Vivie sent me a link to a nice article that the Boston Globe wrote on the area, including the church.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/lif…y.html?event=event25