A conversation with Luc Noppen, the “hero of Quebec churches”

Abstract

This interview with Professor Luc Noppen, a renowned architectural historian specializing in church architecture, explores his career, research, and perspectives on the challenges facing religious heritage. Noppen reflects on his early academic journey, sparked by a fascination with Quebec’s historic churches, and his eventual role as a professor and advocate for their preservation. He discusses the dramatic decline of church attendance and the consequent need for repurposing religious buildings. Through initiatives such as the Religious Heritage Council in Quebec, Noppen has played a key role in securing funding and developing strategies to transform churches into spaces for community use while maintaining their historical significance. He highlights the importance of community engagement in heritage conservation, arguing that the preservation of churches should be a bottom-up process driven by local interest rather than dictated solely by experts. Noppen also stresses the role of young professionals in finding innovative solutions to heritage challenges, noting a growing number of interdisciplinary teams working on church conservation projects. He addresses the difficulties of maintaining large churches in urban centres versus smaller ones in rural areas, advocating for municipal policies that protect churches from speculative redevelopment. Further, the discussion touches on the role of religion in heritage management, emphasizing the need to separate architectural preservation from religious practice. Noppen underscores the value of historical church buildings as cultural and social assets, warning against their loss due to neglect or commercialization. He also calls for greater international collaboration and innovative research into sustainable reuse strategies. The conversation with Luc Noppen provides a comprehensive overview of the current debates on religious heritage preservation, offering insights into both the challenges and opportunities in repurposing churches for future generations.