Les communautés protestantes francophones au Québec de 1834 à 1925

The french-speaking protestant communities in quebec from 1834 to 1925

• Auteur / Autrice : Dominique Vogt-Raguy
• Direction : Pierre Guillaume
• Type : Thèse de doctorat
• Discipline(s) : Histoire
• Date : Soutenance en 1996
• Etablissement(s) : Bordeaux 3

Mots clés

Mots clés contrôlés

Histoire religieuse -- Canada

Québec (Canada ; province)

Protestants

Mots clés libres

Histoire

Résumé

La resurgence du protestantisme francophone au quebec dans les annees 1830, trouble le clivage linguistique et religieux qui oppose les canadiens francophones et catholiques a une population majoritairement anglophone et protestante. La problematique de base de notre recherche a ete de determiner les raisons et d'analyser les mecanismes qui ont conduit cet ambitieux projet missionnaire a l'echec final. Les debuts du travail d'evangelisation s'amorcent sous d'excellents auspices puisque les conditions d'une reussite semblent reunies (l'ardeur des proselytes europeens, le soutien des autorites civiles et religieuses anglophones, l'affaiblissement de la foi catholique de la population francophone). De 1834 a 1860, les cinq organisations missionnaires (la french canadian missionary society, les societes baptistes, presbyteriennes, anglicanes et methodistes) se specialisent dans le colportage, la creation de stations d'evangelisation et l'education. Ces activites, souvent concurrentes, reduisent considerablement leur efficacite sur le terrain et contribuent au renouveau spirituel de l'eglise catholique. De 1861 a 1880, le mouvement d'evangelisation s'eloigne de ses attaches europeennes et diversifie ses activites. L'ultramontanisme quebecois se renforce. Exclus de leur communaute d'origine, bon nombre de convertis s'anglicisent. L'assimilation s'opere par une rupture brusque pour ceux qui s'exilent, ou progressive pour ceux qui demeurent au quebec. De 1881 a 1925, quatre eglises (presbyteriens, baptistes, anglicans, methodistes) se partagent la direction du mouvement qui perd de sa vigueur. Les eglises concernees remettent de plus en plus en question la pertinence de leur engagement. En 1925, les anglicans, les baptistes et l'eglise unie du canada qui vient d'etre creee, cessent de considerer le "french work" comme un objectif prioritaire.

The protestant revival in the french-speaking community in quebec in the 1830's unsettled the linguistic and religious opposition between french-speaking catholic canadians and a population which was mainly english-speaking and protestant. Our research has focused on determining the causes and analysing the mechanisms that led this ambitious missionary project to ist eventual failure. The missionary work set our at the start under excellent circumstances since the most favourable conditions for success seemed to be present (the fervour of european proselytes, the support of civilian and religious english-speaking authorities, the weakening or the catholic faith in the french-speaking population). From 1834 to 1860, the five missionary organisations (the french canadian missionary society, the baptist, presbyterian and methodist societies) directed their efforts to colportage, the setting up of missionary stations and education. Yet, these often competing activities greatly reduced their actual efficiency and fueled the spiritual revival of the catholic church. From 1861 to 1880, the evangelization movement moved further and further from its european ties and diversified its activities. In quebec, ultramontanism grew stronger and, banned from their community, quite a number of converts adoptent the english language. Assimilation was brough about either suddenly for those who chose exile or progressively for those who stayed in the province. From 1881 to 1925, four churches (presbyterians, baptists, anglicans, methodists) shared the leadership of the movement which slowly lost strengh. The same churches more and more questioned the relevance of their commitment. In 1925, the anglicans, the baptists and the new united church