Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Santarém > Abrantes > Bemposta

Location:

The Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene is located in the tranquil village of Bemposta, within the municipality of Abrantes. It stands at a point that reflects the historical centrality of parish churches in rural communities.

An Ancient and Unique Foundation:

This temple boasts a fascinating history dating back to prehistoric times. Its origin is linked to an ancient dolmen, a megalithic funerary monument from the Late Neolithic period. This dolmen, composed of ten large upright stones and a corridor, is recognized as one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula and is classified as a Property of Public Interest.

The uniqueness of Bemposta Church lies in the fact that it was built upon this ancestral monument, making it a unique case in Portugal of the Christianization of a megalithic structure. During an initial period, after its Christianization, the dolmen itself served as the chapel and main altar of the nascent temple.

Later, due to the need to expand the space, the main body of the church was rotated to its current position, with the dolmen becoming integrated into the construction as a side chapel.

Elements of Interest:

The church, in its current configuration dating from the late 15th century, houses several notable elements within. Of particular interest are the Baptismal Font and the Holy Water Font, both from the 16th century, which display a Manueline style characterized by their popular craftsmanship. Inside, it is also possible to observe tiles dating from the 17th century.

Outside, on the main facade corresponding to the structure of the ancient dolmen, there is a niche housing a small image of Saint Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of the parish, dating back to the 15th century.

The structure covering the dolmen's chamber, a peculiar 17th/18th-century roof, resulted from a partial fracture of the original capstone and constitutes a unique architectural detail.

Faith and Local History:

In addition to the patron saint Saint Mary Magdalene, the church is marked by the devotion of the inhabitants of Bemposta and its surroundings to Our Lady of the Rosary. This devotion has ancient roots, with an image of Our Lady of the Rosary being one of four images present in the church in the early 17th century, as described in the work "Santuario Mariano" by Frei Agostinho de Santa Maria, bearing witness to the long religious tradition associated with this place.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt