Church Point Pointe-de-l’Église






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Welcome to Church Point
Church Point is the site of many events and attractions such as the Acadian Festival and the Centre acadien archives.

Church Point is also home to Université Sainte-Anne that was founded in 1891 by Eudist priests from France and is the only French university in the province. The campus theatre provides the stage for performances of the play "Évangéline" based on Longfellow's epic poem that describes the life of a French country girl who becomes an Acadian heroine in the times of the deportation.

The inspiring production runs throughout the summer months and foresees the addition of an English version for the 2002 season. The theatre group also presents an outdoor version of the play which takes place in a small wood behind Saint Mary's Church and follows the shoreline to the Church Point Lighthouse.

Neighboring the university is Saint Mary's Church; the tallest wooden church in North America. The magnificent building, constructed in the form of a cross with the steeple reaching 190 feet high, is one of the most popular sights of the community and is now recognized as an official museum. An exhibition room displaying photos and historical items offers a look into the past of the church and its congregation. The church also features a gift shop area and local information. Bilingual guided tours are available throughout the summer.

Rarely used today to identify the village of Church Point, the Indian term Chicaben meaning, "Place where wild potatoes grow", was used for many years by the residents of Clare. It is a natural assumption that St Mary`s Church is the reason that this village was renamed Church Point, but this name actually comes from the earlier construction of another church.

The nearby village of Grosses Coques was the site of the first chapel in Clare, but when the community grew, and the village of Grosses Coques was no longer a centralized location for the chapel, the order was given to build another chapel in the village of Chicaben. It is this construction that gave birth to the name Church Point due to the fact that this second chapel was being built on an extension of rocky shore.

Today, the Church Point lighthouse can be found on this point as well as a monument erected on the site of the chapel describing the historical importance of the small place of worship. This site can be reached by taking a drive or walk along a path behind the university. This chapel should not be confused with La Petite Chapelle found on Major`s Point in Belliveau Cove.

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