BACKGROUND
St Jax, formerly known as St. James the Apostle Anglican Church, is located in the heart of downtown Montreal. Established in 1864, the church became a focal point of the Golden Square Mile, a thriving and dynamic neighbourhood. By 2015, the church faced declining attendance and financial challenges, leading to the suspension of regular operations. The community organisations in that neighbourhood were also faced with a growing problem of lack of affordable community space. In 2016, the church reopened as St. Jax, embracing a new vision of serving both spiritual and community needs.
PHASE 1: VISIONING, CAPITAL STRATEGY & PARTNERSHIPS (2016–2018)
Objective: Preserve the historic building, stabilize church operations, and lay the foundation for a sustainable, community-centered future.
Key Actions
- Facilitated a complete governance and operations reboot, including a 9-month closure for renovations.
- Partnered with the Anglican Diocese of Montreal to relaunch the space allowing both church and non-religious uses.
- Formed strategic partnerships with key nonprofits: Cirque Le Monastère, Action Réfugiés Montréal, Innovation Assistance, and others.
- Launched a ‘Robin Hood rental strategy,’ charging market rates for premium events to subsidize space for community groups.
Capital Strategy
- Secured initial funding through diocesan support.
- Obtained over $2M in grants and donations.
- Raised $1.2M in bond financing through the Diocese of Montreal.
- In total, over $10M in value was unlocked, including $3M in heritage renovations and further property valuation leveraged through partnerships.
PHASE 2: OPERATIONAL GROWTH AND HUB ACTIVATION (2019–PRESENT)
Objective: Transform St Jax into a multi-use anchor in downtown Montreal—financially viable, socially impactful, and spiritually grounded.
Key Actions by Relèven
- Registered “Centre St. Jax” to oversee bookings, partnerships, and maintenance—freeing the congregation to focus on ministry.
- Cultivated a diverse user base: Indigenous-led street patrols, addiction recovery groups, refugee advocates, artists, and performers.
- Developed four rentable zones (sanctuary, garden, gym, parish hall) totaling over 35,000 sq. ft
- Leveraged partnerships for new funding, including a $440K Canadian Cultural Spaces Program grant via Le Monastère.
- In 2023, began discussions with the City of Montreal to sell the church’s garden—the only green space on the western portion of Sainte-Catherine Street. Completed the sale of the garden to the city of Montreal in July 2025 for $3.2M.
- In 2024, secured a grant from the RBC Foundation to improve accessibility
- In 2025, “Centre St. Jax” was renamed “Espace Jax” to better reflect its collaborative identity and the growing leadership of its many partner organizations.
- Today, Espace Jax is home to three different church communities—including Anglican, Pentecostal, and Evangelical congregations—that worship at different times and share the space in harmony. Despite theological differences, these groups cohabit peacefully alongside a wide range of non-religious partners, setting a strong example of respectful pluralism and shared purpose.
- Positioned the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall as wedding and concert venues.
Key Results
- Land and renovation value unlocked: $10M+
- Heritage renovation investment: $3M
- Annual operating revenue: $500,000
- Nonprofits and charities involved: 50+
- Active user groups: 98
- Event and program spaces: 4 distinct zones (35,000+ sq. ft.)
- Climate impact: Adaptive reuse avoided major demolition and landfill waste
IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED
- Adaptive Reuse = Climate Action: Redeveloping an existing building eliminated demolition waste and embodied carbon costs.
- Social Inclusion: The space now supports diverse community needs—from arts to housing justice—through below-market access.
- Innovative Finance: Bonds, grants, earned revenue, and charitable contributions blended to create long-term sustainability.
- Replicable Model: St Jax serves as a blueprint for churches across Canada navigating the intersection of faith, heritage, and public good.
- Cultural Transformation: The former sanctuary now hosts trapeze artists. Worship continues on Sundays. This is not a loss of identity—it’s a living reinvention.
CONCLUSION
St Jax Montréal exemplifies what is possible when sacred spaces are opened to the city around them. Today, Espace Jax is financially viable, socially vibrant, and spiritually alive— proof that churches can do far more than survive. They can lead.
