Morinville church bells saved after fire destroys the historic landmark

EDMONTON -

One week after a century old historic church burned to the ground in Morinville – that community is turning its focus to the future.

The fire that destroyed St. Jean Baptiste Church happened early on June 30, fire investigators are still calling it “suspicious.”

“It’s a shame because now we’re back to the point where everyone can start going back regularly whenever we wanted and yeah, it’s not there anymore,” said congregation member Iain Watson.

Throughout the week church-goers walk past the destroyed building, reflecting on what it was and staring at what’s left.

“My folks are buried here, I got a brother buried here and sisters,” said Morinville resident Albert Dupuis. “It’s pretty hard to take, you know.”

St. Jean Baptiste Church after the fire that destroyed the historic structure June 30. July 6, 2021. (Sean Amato/CTV News Edmonton)

While most of the 114-year-old historic resource is unrecognizable, three bells that once hung in the steeple remain.

“They were automatic I imagine, years back they had a guy with a rope ringing the bells,” said Dupuis.

“They rang at funerals, weddings, you heard them lots you know. They were part of the noise fabric of this town you could say,” said Philip Lavallee.

Lavallee played the rare Casavant pipe organ at the St. Jean Baptiste Church for more than 30 years.

“I don’t know if we’ll get back to having such a thing as a pipe organ. I don’t know. The thing was almost 100 years old,” said Lavallee.

Though the organ was lost, parish leaders are forming committee to rebuild the church and they intend to incorporate the original front doors and the three bells.

“It won’t be the same, but it’ll be part of our history still right? So it’ll be nice to hear,” said Watson.

It will likely be years before the bells ring again, but the church’s absence has already taken a toll.

“You know it’s not just about religion of course, it’s just what it means for Morinville and kind of synonymous as a landmark or icon for our community,” said Morinville Mayor Barry Turner.

“I hope they can rebuild it, but not like it was I don’t imagine,” said Dupuis.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson.