Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Açores > Ribeira Grande > Fenais da Ajuda > Ribeira Funda
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda is located in the small village of Fenais da Ajuda, part of the Ribeira Funda area, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, on the island of São Miguel, Azores. The temple rises serenely at the northern end of a pleasant rectangular garden.
This garden is a welcoming space, bordered by two rows of plane trees that offer shade and tranquility, and is beautified by flowerbeds. Traversed by small pedestrian paths, a stone bandstand stands out in the center. Its location, slightly isolated at the edge of the village, gives the place an atmosphere of peace and contemplation.
The history of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda dates back to an ancient hermitage, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, already existing on this site in the 16th century. At the end of the 17th century, driven by popular devotion, Lázaro Rodrigues Estrela and Maria Francisca Barros, from Ribeira Grande, founded a convent of Recollet Franciscans next to the hermitage.
The first stone of this convent was blessed in 1681, and the new temple was solemnly consecrated on August 15, 1696, on the feast day of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, who is the patron saint of the place. After the dissolution of religious orders in 1832, the convent and church underwent a period of degradation, but the temple would later undergo significant restoration works in the 20th century, recovering its current vitality.
The church features a style that reflects 18th and 19th-century interventions, showing a harmonious fusion of elements. Its white-plastered facades contrast with basalt stonework elements, such as the quoins and the square-plan bell tower. The main facade culminates in a semicircular pediment, displaying a family coat of arms that recalls its original patrons.
Inside, visitors are invited to appreciate the details that enrich the space. The chancel walls are covered with revivalist blue and white tiles, which lend a particular charm to the ambiance. Equally notable are the carved altarpieces, present in the nave, chancel, and side chapel, which display meticulous craftsmanship and gilded elements, underscoring the artistic richness and devotion that shaped this heritage throughout the centuries.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.8554852,-25.3243556
Coordinates DMS: 37°51'19.7"N 25°19'27.7"W
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