“Collegial”, the origin of the name is the fact that this church, as a result of is size of its community and its wealth, possessed a college (collegium) of priests called “chapter” (capitulum).  The “chapter” lasted from 1317 to 1789 and was disbanded during the French Revolution.

The French Pope Jean XXII (Jacques Duèze) created the Chapter of Montreal in 1317.  Fifteen canons made up this Chapter, plus 3 ‘hebdomadiers” (who are also canons), 23 “chaplains” (priests), 2 deacons, 2 sub deacons, 6 clerks, 8 choir boys.

You can first visit the building via Saint Vincent’s square.  In the middle of the facade facing south, stands a great portal, decorated with numerous sculptures the fine detail of which stands out from the almost severe block stone of the collegial church.  It seems to date from the end of the 14^th century or the 15^th century.  On the right of the portal, the successive levels of the octagonal belfry show that the construction of the church took place over several periods.  The gargoyle placed at the head of a buttress is a remarkable piece of work, which has been swallowed up in the block stone of the belfry.

It is not possible to date these architectural additions, but it is likely that the part which goes past the choir’s apse of the church is post 17^th century.

The left part of the facade facing south, the crows beneath the stained glass windows, the well on its right an ogival relieving arch, the west front (far end of the church) and its entrance portal, the octagonal watch tower on the north-west side, the pepper-pot  tower on the south-west side ….These elements are all older and time worn and belong to an earlier church, dating from the 12^th or maybe the 11^th century.

In fact, Philippe II the Bold, King of France, in 1273 authorised the enlargement of the community and the widening of the church because it was “very narrow” (minus arcta).

Underneath the arch, is a remarkable piece of stone carving and a large leaf of studded wood, recently restored with original fittings and strap hinges which are probably from before the wars of religion (end of 16^th century), from which the collegial church suffered greatly. 

Inside a unique nave, characteristic of the churches of the Midi, whose elegance is due to their harmonious proportions: 55 metres long, 22 metres wide (including the width of the Chapels) and 22 metres high from the floor paving to the keystones of the vault.

The walls of the church which are entirely covered with a variety of multicoloured stencilled patterns were whitewashed in the 17^th century and the stained glass windows were of plain glass. The nave’s vault did not include any intersecting ribs between the transverse ribs and roof’s framework was visible.  Thus the rose windows, visible from outside could light up the nave.  This additional light sources explains why there are no stained glass windows on the northern wall of the church. 

Thousands of Montreal inhabitants of all ranks lie underneath the paving stones of the floor.  We know the names of more than a thousand of them, as well as the exact place in the nave where they are buried. 

Canons were buried in the church choir.  The current appearance of the choir dates from the 18^th century but it was originally at the same level as the nave and was lit through seven large stained glass windows of the same length.

A first transformation took place in 1349 with the construction of three chapels situated in the choir’s buttresses.

A large painting hides the central chapel at the back of the choir.

The high altar and the two side altars on the right, one dedicated to the Virgin Mary the one on the left to Saint Michel are made of multicoloured marble which has been expertly crafted.

In the choir itself, where the Chapter’s councils met, 66 stalls in two rows, delicately sculpted and decorated with coats of arms of the Chapter’s well-known members.

Above the choir stalls, seven large paintings by the Toulouse painter Despax (1755) all devoted to the life and martyrdom of Saint Vincent, deacon who was martyred in 301 in Valencia (Spain).

Saint Vincent is the patron and protector of the parish of Montreal.

In the middle of the canon’s choir stands a large carved wooden choir stall  made in Toulouse around 1820.

All the remaining stained glass windows of the church date from the 19^th century.

The central stained glass windows of the choir brings together Saint Dominic and Saint Francis of Assisi. The rose that hangs the over the entrance portal represents Saint Vincent, the patron of the parish.

The two chapels of Saint Vincent and of the Virgin Mary, as well as the other two, which abut on to the nave, date from the 18^th century. All the other chapels have been modified during the 19^th century.