Building the House of God

#70100

VHS, 30 min., 1995, ©University of Calgary
Available in English and French

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The monks of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Benoit-du-Lac, Quebec, have long been known for their particularly fine Gregorian chant, now they have consolidated their reputation as patrons of architecture. Saint-Benoit-du-Lac enjoys a picturesque prospect beside Lake Memphremagog, amid the hardwood forests that blanket the rolling hills of the Eastern Townships in Quebec. The only example in North America of the work of French architect Paul Bellot (1876-1944), the monastery possesses all the hallmarks of Bellot's style-subtle geometric relationships, intricate stone and brick-work, and multi-coloured tiles. Recently, the monastery has completed a strikingly beautiful yet austere church addition, designed by Dan Hanganu, an award-winning Canadian architect from Montreal. The monastery now unites purpose and place, past and present, in an architectural dance as complex and majestic as the Gregorian chant that links these monks with the ancient traditions of monasticism. As well as providing a brief history of the Benedictine way of life, this video features interviews with the architect of the monastic church, discussions with the prior of the abbey, and the only footage in existence of the 1994 inauguration ceremony.

Award of Excellence - 1996 AMTEC Media Festival, Vancouver, BC