St. Benoît du Lac abbey,

Lac Memphrémagog

Dom Bellot's return to France was blocked by the outbreak of the Second World War. Bellot was forced to stay in Canada. He finds refuge with the monks of the Benedictine community of Saint-Wandrille, who left France for Canada in 1912. They lived in an existing house near Magog, but had plans to convert this temporary residence into a real monastery.

In 1939, Dom Bellot started building the Abbey of St. Benoît du Lac. It had to be a large complex, five-sided, very similar to its window shape when viewed from above, with a twill arch. Construction started with the south-east wing of the complex, which contained the chapter house, residences and the refectory. The monastery church should be located on the north side, where the later added church is now located. A steel construction forms the framework, the outer walls are made of natural stone, the inner walls in the characteristic brick pattern.

The refectory functioned as the chapel in the early years. The Holy Mass was celebrated here for the first time on Ascension Day, May 22, 1941. Later, the pulpit, which is used for lectures during meals, was added to this room, according to Dom Bellot's original plans.

The first part of the monastery has the chapter house in the octagonal part on the south side. From the outside, this part looks like a small, squat tower. The grand staircase can be found in the slender tower near the east wing. Due to the height difference in the terrain, the walkway with the brick arches is on the second floor. The stones and colors used in this walkway are mainly in soft pastel colours. The contrast with the white pillars and the bright blue underside of the stairs in the stairwell is therefore surprising. Colored joints are also used.

On the top floor there is an indoor balcony with a southeastern view over the lake.

The complex was not completed according to the original plans. After the death of Dom Bellot in 1944, Dom Côté OSB designed and built the large tower, the hotel (guest houses) and the crypt of the church in 1955-1962. Dom Côté also designed an impressive monastery church, which was never built. Parts of this design would later be used for the parish church in Granby. The crypt became the new church for the monastic community, after which the refectory was used as a dining room.

The parts of Dom Côté exude the same style as the work of Dom Bellot, but Côté uses harder, brighter colored stone. The corridor from the entrance to the monastery church is a good example of this.

It was not until 1988 that the monks launched a design competition to complete the abbey with an abbey church. Dan Hanganu won with his design and in November 1990 construction of the modern church began, on top of the crypt of Dom Côté. After the abbey church was put into use, the crypt became the library.

Bellot's style can no longer be found in this church.

Both Dom Bellot and Dom Côté are buried in the cemetery at this abbey.