Church of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Lagoa)

Church of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação)
Parochial Church of Porches, Church of Our Lady of the Encarnation
Church (Igreja)
The front facade of the parochial Church of Porches dedicated to Our Lady of the Encarnation
Official name: Igreja Paroquial de Porches/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação
Named for: Our Lady of the Incarnation
Country  Portugal
Region Algarve
Subregion Algarve
District Faro
Municipality Lagoa
Location Porches
 - elevation 89 m (292 ft)
 - coordinates PT 37°7′31.65″N 8°23′56.05″W / 37.1254583°N 8.3989028°W / 37.1254583; -8.3989028Coordinates: PT 37°7′31.65″N 8°23′56.05″W / 37.1254583°N 8.3989028°W / 37.1254583; -8.3989028
Length 30.15 m (99 ft), Southwest-Northeast
Width 18.20 m (60 ft), Northwest-Southeast
Architects unknown
Style Baroque
Materials Plaster, Masonry, Stone, Wood, Tile
Origin 16th century
 - Initiated 1882
Owner Portuguese Republic
For public Public
Easiest access Rua do Correio; Rua da Igreja
Management Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico
Operator Roman Catholic Diocese of Faro
Status Unclassified

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação, the parochial Church of Porches, is situated in the civil parish of Porches, in the municipality of Lagoa in Portuguese Algarve.

History

Founded in the 16th century, the church retains a few vestiges of its early history.[1] Only the chancel remains of the original church, which was later ruined by the 1755 earthquake.[1]

It was sometime during the 18th century that azulejo tile was installed in the main nave.[1]

A portion of the older temple was incorporated into the structure of the modern church, although remodeling in 1882 transformed the character of the present building.[1]

Architecture

Inscription dedicated to philanthropist António Joaquim Cabrita, a benefactor of the parochial church

The exterior is an example of southern Portuguese church architecture with a somber facade.[1] The principal facade is oriented towards the west, with a triptych portico aligned on either side by a square annexes, surmounted by royal crown.[1]

The interior is notable for the chancel, dedicated to Our Lady of the Incarnation, with ribbed vaulting, and faced with tiles from the 17th century; and an 18th-century altar-piece of gilded carved wood with several images.[1] The vaulted-ceiling within the presbytery is decorated in azulejo tile, while the chancel is gilded in gold.[1]

More recently, the Irish artist, Patrick Swift, designed the stations of the cross for the church, and was later buried in the local cemetery following his death.[2]

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gordalina, Rosário (2006), SIPA, ed., Igreja Paroquial de Porches/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (IPA.00024135/PT050806040022) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 August 2013
  2. ↑ Swift re-introduced pottery making to Porches when he founded, with Lima de Freitas, Porches Pottery (Olaria Algarve) in 1968.
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