File:DSC01148 - Church Treasure (43657682125).jpg

English: Saint Anne holding Mary

The real treasure of the church is the statue of St. Anne, which stands near the choir. This masterpiece was carved in Ghent, Belgium, by an artist named Mathias Zens. It is totally made of Belgian oak. It is a marvel of precision, both in the natural movement and the size of the fabric as in the density of the tiny strokes of paint, which gives it this aesthetic splendour despite the many years. It can be said, without question, that this statue is unique in the world.

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The centrepiece of the town is the Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade Church, a Catholic church (dedicated to Saint Anne) near the banks of the Sainte-Anne River.

In December 1852, when Louis-Adolphe Dupuis was serving as parish priest, it was decided, at a meeting of La Fabrique, to dedicate all the money from the coffers to the construction of a new church. The contract was not officially signed until May 31, 1855. The plans for this new church were inspired by the Notre-Dame de Montréal church. It was built on land that had been donated by citizens. The construction work took place over 14 years, during which time the stones from Deschambault were transported to Sainte-Anne. On July 29, 1856, Bishop Cooke laid the foundation stone. Finally, the church was opened on August 26, 1869.

As soon as we arrive in front of the church, we see above the large portico a statue of Saint Anne standing 30.25 meters (96ft) above the ground. It was carved by an Italian, J. B. Salla, in a granite block from a St. Mark quarry.