The Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Lajes das Flores/Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário) is an 18th-century church located in the civil parish of Lajes in the municipality of Lajes das Flores, in the Portuguese island of Flores, in the archipelago of the Azores.
| Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário | |
|---|---|
| Church of Our Lady of the Rosary | |
Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Rosário | |
 | |
| 39°22′41.7″N 31°10′27.3″W / 39.378250°N 31.174250°W | |
| Location | Flores, Western, Azores |
| Country | Portugal |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Virgin Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Revivalist |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Angra |
History
edit
In 1515, Lajes was elevated to the status of town.[1]
Sometime in the 16th century, the Hermitage of Espírito Santo (Divine Holy Spirit) which was located near the port was moved to the town, owing to a similar temple in the port.[1]
On 25 July 1587, the primitive parochial church of Lajes, situated in the location occupied by the municipal cemetery was burned-down by English privateers, that landed five ships whose troops sacked the town and surrounding countryside.[1]
By 1717, the parish included only 300 homes.[1] Between 1763 and 1783, the actual church was raised on the site occupied by the Hermitage of Espírito Santo.[1]
By 1800, there were 486 inhabitants comprising 75 homes and the parochial church within the town limits.[1] Its vicar received a stipend of 7 bushels of wheat, 4 alqueires of wheat and 8$000 réis to support his services to the community.[1]
In the middle of the 19th century, the church was renovated, followed by embellishments in the 1880s.[1] At the beginning of the 20th century, the lateral retables were installed (1908), executed by the Florentinos António de Maurício de Fraga and Francisco José Pimentel.[1] It would be another few decades before these retables were guided by the Micaelense artisan António Jacinto Carreiro (in the 1960s).[1]
Architecture
editThe church is located in the centre of the town, situated within a group of builds of the historic town, that include the Municipal Palace/Hall, the old Naval Radio-Telegraphic Station of Flores, as well as a short distance from the lighthouse of Lajes.[1] It occupies a level courtyard and garden limited by minor wall.[2]
The rectangular building has a principal facade that integrates two large, rectangular bell towers, long single-nave and auxiliary annexes that correspond to the sacristy.[1][2]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Noé, Paula (2011), SIPA (ed.), Igreja Paroquial de Lajes das Flores/Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário (IPA.00032436/PT072003050011) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 21 December 2016
- ^ a b DRC, ed. (9 September 2003), "82.22.45 Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário", Inventário do Património Imóvel dos Açores, Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal: Direção Regional da Cultura
Sources
edit- Gomes, Francisco António Nunes Pimentel (1997), A ilha das Flores: Da redescoberta à actualidade (Subsídios para a sua História) (in Portuguese), Câmara Municipal de Lajes das Flores
- Câmara Municipal, ed. (1997), Revista Municipal (in Portuguese), Câmara Municipal das Lajes das Flores
- Câmara Municipal, ed. (1997), Revista Municipal (in Portuguese), Câmara Municipal das Lajes das Flores