Built in 1934, the Reformed Baptist Church of Rouyn-Noranda is a modest place of worship in the vernacular tradition. Constructed of wood and clad with clapboard, it has a simple rectangular floor plan, ending in a flat chevet and topped with a gable roof. The orderly, symmetrical facade features a central portico framing an imposing semicircular archway, which serves as the main entrance to the building.
Photo credit: Paul Trépanier
The Reformed Baptist Church of Rouyn-Noranda is a unique case in the local religious landscape, as it is the only former place of worship to have retained its original name.
Intended for small communities, these missions did not require large spaces, favoring simple, affordable, and easy-to-maintain buildings. Far from hindering their longevity, this modesty has allowed the Baptist church to maintain its original use without interruption and to preserve its integrity remarkably well to this day.
Photo credit: BAnQ
Appointed Baptist pastor in Noranda in 1947, the young Murray Heron, then only 22 years old, quickly attracted attention. His enthusiasm and commitment quickly made an impression on the community, making him a much-talked-about figure in the small mining town.
Photo from the cover of Murray Heron's autobiography
Here you can see the Baptist church nearing completion.
The church in 1950. Note that at the time, the color contrasts were reversed! The main body of the building was light in color, while the window frames and corner boards were dark.
Photo credit: City of Rouyn-Noranda
Colorized photo of the Noranda neighborhood with the Baptist church in the foreground. Look up and notice the Notre-Dame-de-Protection church on Murdoch Avenue and the mining headframe, which has since been demolished.
Photo credit: Facebook
The Reformed Baptist Church in Rouyn-Noranda is notable for its architectural value. Exceptionally well preserved, it is the oldest place of worship in the city that has retained the integrity of its original components and spatial layout. Like many small Protestant churches from the pioneer period, it follows the classic North American vernacular tradition, characterized by simple volumes and discreet integration into the surrounding residential fabric.
The church is also of major heritage interest for its historical value. Built in 1934, it is the only religious building from that period to have retained its original name until 2024. The building is also linked to a significant episode in the history of regional Protestantism. In 1947, the young pastor Murray Heron, newly appointed to Noranda, launched a 'crusade' against the ban on preaching outside churches. His stance earned him several prison terms, but also widespread media coverage, which propelled the issue to national prominence in North America.
- 1928 Arrival of the first Baptist missionaries (Olive Copp and Charles McGrath)
- 1929 Olive Copp purchased Lot 122 (218, 5th Street) to serve as a temporary place of worship and then as a residence for the Baptist pastor serving the mission
- 1933 Noranda Mines Ltd. granted Stanley Wellington a long-term lease for Lot 414 (6, 9th Street)
First place of worship for the Baptist church and residence of the pastor between 1929 and 1947.
- Its location within a residential neighborhood
- Its rectangular shape and gabled roof
- Its materials, including concrete foundations and clapboard siding
- Its main door and arched windows on the front and rear facades
- Its rectangular side windows
- Its main facade, portico, and steps