Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada Québec Saint-Anicet Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church

Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church

The roofless ruins of a church surrounded by acres of bucolic farmland.

Saint-Anicet, Québec

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Built around 1840, the Rosebank or John MacDonald manor is now the only vestige still inhabited in the former village.  
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The term Rivière-La Guerre is used interchangeably to refer to a river, a village that used to exist on its banks, and the nearby ruins of a Presbyterian church. In spite of what the toponym may suggest, the etymology of Rivière-La Guerre has nothing to do with the war. The name is, in fact, linked to François Benoît dit Laguerre who, during the 18th-century, was busy doing construction work along the river that was later named after him.

Today, maps label as Rivière-La Guerre as a piece of land at the intersection of Mnt Quesnel and CH Rivière à La Guerre, in the Saint-Anicet municipality. The only obvious evidence that there was once a village at this location is the ruins of its Presbyterian church and surrounding cemetery. The first settlers arrived mainly from Scotland during the 1820s, but the village was abandoned within 30 years of its founding due to persistent flooding caused by the building of a canal upstream. The church was constructed towards the end of this village’s short existence, between 1847 and 1851. It was used for 90 years with its last function being carried out in 1941. 

Built entirely of stone, the church was particularly robust. Its chance for survival was further enhanced due to its construction on a mound, which elevated it ever so slightly compared with other buildings. But perhaps, what helped most to ensure its survival is that the building was a place of worship surrounded by gravestones, and as such, people may not have been willing to level it to the ground to make room for arable land. Which factor or combination of factors was instrumental for its survival is a matter of speculation, but survive it did. 

Today, the church’s walls still look solid, but the roof is gone, and the elements have started scarring the external walls. All the doors and windows have pointed arches and wooden frames are still in place, albeit badly damaged.   

Related Tags

History & Culture Churches Ruins

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Edited By

gcarlh

  • gcarlh

Published

January 4, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Rivière-La Guerre Presbyterian Church
1498 Chem. de la Rivière-La Guerre
Saint-Anicet, Québec, J0S 1M0
Canada
45.119333, -74.317281
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Parc des Ancres

Pointe-des-Cascades, Québec

miles away

Sucrerie de la Montagne

Rigaud, Québec

miles away

René Lévesque Park

Montreal, Québec

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Québec

Québec

Canada

Places 89
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Parc des Ancres

Pointe-des-Cascades, Québec

miles away

Sucrerie de la Montagne

Rigaud, Québec

miles away

René Lévesque Park

Montreal, Québec

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Québec

Québec

Canada

Places 89
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Ruins of the church in Dvorine from above.

    Banja, Serbia

    Dvorine

    The remains of a luxurious 14th-century church built by the last despot of Serbia.

  • Birkenhead Priory

    Birkenhead, England

    Birkenhead Priory

    The oldest standing building on Merseyside is special for its rich history as a Benedictine monastery and its unique connection to the origins of the Mersey Ferry.

  • Church of St. Sophia in Nessebar

    Nessebar, Bulgaria

    Hagia Sophia Church

    This fifth-century church is one of the oldest Christian sites in the Balkans.

  • Basilica of Panagia Limeniotissa 

    Paphos, Cyprus

    Basilica of Panagia Limeniotissa

    The ruins of a fifth-century church dedicated to Our Lady of the Harbor.

  • The remains of Lennel Kirk.

    Lennel, Scotland

    Lennel Kirk

    This Norman church survived the Reformation before suffering 300 years of neglect.

  • DOMUnder

    Utrecht, Netherlands

    DOMunder Subterranean Ruins

    Underground attraction offering tours of the foundational ruins of a church nave that collapsed in 1674.

  • Looking out to sea where pilgrims would have landed.

    Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

    Chapel Finian

    Named after a 6th-century saint, who was also a scholar.

  • Leiden, Netherlands

    Vrouwekerk

    Only a few walls remain of the last church the Pilgrims used before they sailed to North America.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.