For the last three years, the Dundee Zion United Church has been restoring the ruins of the Laguerre church, working alongside stonemason Claude Caza in an effort to repair the stonewalls of the historic landmark.
Thanks to a sizeable grant funded by the PACT Rural program of the MRC Du Haut-Saint-Laurent and countless donations from locals and fundraisers alike, the walls and floors of the ruins are nearly restored. A popular spot for picnics and photography ops alike, the site caught the attention of Montreal’s St. Andrews Scottish Society in 2013, who reached out to the Dundee Zion Church about restoring the crumbling structure. Following this inquiry, the church formed a committee to take responsibility for the repairs.
Over the past few summers, the church has been hosting picnics at the site of the ruins. This year, the church was set to hold a service between the walls of the historic ruins on August 14th, but the ceremony was cancelled due to rainy weather. Former local and historian David Fraser, who now resides in British Columbia, had travelled to Dundee to speak to the congregation about the history of the site.
A History
Established in the 1800s, Laguerre grew so fast that pressure was exerted to build a Presbyterian Church on the clergy reserve. Due to a number of variables, the church was not officially built until 1847. According to Fraser, “…the first stone of the Calvin “Free Presbyterian Church” of Laguerre was laid by stone mason John Leslie…the first kirk session of the Calvin Free Presbyterian Church at Laguerre met on October 1, 1853, twenty-one years after Dundee, with Rev. D. Gordon and with Elders James Fraser and William Gordon in attendance. Rev. Gordon was an interim pastor at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Dundee as Rev. Duncan Moody was in poor health and had resigned his position.”
Unfortunately, flood waters decimated the value of the majority of Laguerre by 1850, causing many residents to relocate by 1851. By 1931, the church closed due to a lack of attendance. These days, the site retains a portion of its former glory, its beautiful structure standing tall in modern times.
For any inquiries, please contact Dundee Zion United Church or visit the “Save the Laguerre Ruins” Facebook page.
