Heritage Alert Eglise Sainte-Marie, Nova Scotia, Canada
ICOMOS and its National Committee in Canada are issuing a Heritage Alert for the former Église Sainte-Marie (Church Point) in Nova Scotia, Canada. This remarkable heritage site is under threat of demolition. ICOMOS is calling upon the Canadian federal government, the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Municipality of Clare to take immediate action to protect the church.
Towering over St. Mary’s Bay with its remarkable 56.4-meter (185-foot) steeple, the Église Sainte-Marie is believed to be the tallest historic wooden church in North America. Today, the Église Sainte-Marie faces imminent demolition. After years of deferred maintenance and the absence of a sustainable preservation plan, the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth officially desacralized Sainte-Marie in 2023.
Église Sainte-Marie and the interior of the site
Towering over St. Mary’s Bay with its remarkable 56.4-meter (185-foot) steeple, the Église Sainte-Marie is believed to be the tallest historic wooden church in North America. But its significance goes far beyond its impressive height.
Built between 1903 and 1905 by over 1,500 Acadian Catholic volunteers under the leadership of master carpenter Léo-Jean Melanson, the church is not only a testament to resilience but also to craftmanship and faith. The design, adapted from a French stone church by architect Arthur Regnault, blends French and Romanesque Revival styles with remarkable ingenuity. 40 tons of rock ballast were placed at the base of the steeple to anchor it against the fierce Atlantic winds – a brilliant solution at its time, to the challenges of the local climate.
Beyond its architectural grandeur, Sainte-Marie is a landmark of the Acadian community, representing the community’s return and rebuilding after the 1755 Acadian Expulsion. For generations, it has stood as a cultural and spiritual beacon.
Sainte-Marie is the third church built on its historical site, where many local families can trace their ancestry to Acadians who resettled in 1769 after years of displacement. For centuries, Sainte-Marie has been more than a place of worship. It has served as a gathering space, a historical anchor, and a living reminder of the strength and continuity of Acadian heritage.
Despite its designation as a provincial heritage property since 2001, Sainte-Marie currently lacks national recognition and federal protection.
Today, the Église Sainte-Marie faces imminent demolition. After years of deferred maintenance and the absence of a sustainable preservation plan, the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth officially desacralized Sainte-Marie in 2023. They have since issued a call for demolition in October 2024 and are seeking to remove its provincial heritage designation – the last formal safeguard standing in the way of its loss.
While the Municipality of Clare has recently allocated funds for commemorative documentation in 2025, no current efforts are in place to protect the building from destruction or to secure its future as a living heritage site. ICOMOS Canada underscores the urgency for an adapted approach and support from all levels of government.
ICOMOS Calls for Immediate Action
Recognising Sainte-Marie as a site of national and international cultural importance, ICOMOS is issuing a Heritage Alert to draw attention to the urgent threat of demolition. ICOMOS and ICOMOS Canada are calling upon the Canadian Federal Government, the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Municipality of Clare to take immediate and collaborative action.
Specifically, ICOMOS recommends all responsible parties to:
- Reject any request to deregister the Église Sainte-Marie as a provincial heritage site;
- Halt demolition plans immediately;
- Work with the owners to implement emergency roof and envelope repairs to prevent further structural deterioration.;
- Collaboratively develop a heritage conservation and management plan;
- Implement and sustainably fund a long-term plan balancing revenue-generation and heritage conservation;
- Secure federal recognition for the Église Sainte-Marie through Parks Canada;
- Include the Église Sainte-Marie in provincial and municipal plans for tourism development, rural economic rejuvenation and environmental sustainability.