They saw great. They even hired an architect from New York, James O'Donnell. He had to build the church two or three times larger than the largest churches of America, nothing less! It was in 1823. The Notre-Dame church remained the largest religious temple in America for very long. Its constructor converted to Catholicism before dying but could not see his finished work. He is buried under the Basilica and a marble plaque indicates the place.
Notre-Dame Basilica is not the first church built on the same location. A smaller one had been erected in the center of the current Notre-Dame Street and enlarged a few times. As the population increased, it was then decided to build a larger and more beautiful construction which ended around 1830.
A chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur was added in 1891. A criminal fire destroyed it in 1978. The Church was fortunately saved. The Chapel was rebuilt in 1982 and seems very popular for the celebration of marriages.
The decoration was done in the style of the Sainte-Chapelle of Paris after 1870. The vault is decorated with gold stars. If one takes a guided tour, he will hear the guide give the exact number of stars. The stained glass windows, made in France, describe the history of Ville-Marie. The two towers are not exactly the same height. The West Tower “Perseverance” is 63 meter high while its companion “Temperance” is 61 meters. The brass “Gros Bourdon”” of the perseverance Tower weighs only 11, 263 kg and sings for special occasions. As to temperance, it houses a 10 bell carillon.
Sad or happy events happened during its history. Pope John Paul II visited it in 1984. It hosted the great international Eucharistic Congress in 1910. Celine Dion and René got married in it. Funerals of important people have been celebrated there: Sir George - Etienne Cartier, Maurice Richard, Pierre-Elliott Trudeau and other characters that marked our history.
