Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Santarém > Chamusca > Chamusca > Chamusca e Pinheiro Grande
The Church of the Third Order of Saint Francis is located in the village of Chamusca, within the Union of Parishes of Chamusca and Pinheiro Grande, in the municipality of Chamusca, Santarém district. Built on the highest part of the village, the building is surrounded by the traditional houses of the locality, integrating into the characteristic urban fabric of this Ribatejo region.
This building, classified as a Property of Municipal Interest since 1978, was erected in the 18th century to serve as the headquarters for the Third Order of Penance, a secular Franciscan brotherhood that established itself in Chamusca in 1733. Construction work, which began in 1741, extended for almost five decades, only being completed in 1790, a reflection of the brotherhood's economic difficulties and legal impediments.
Throughout the 20th century, the church underwent various transformations, losing its religious function in 1912. It was then adapted to house the Chamusquense Asylum, which significantly altered its original 18th-century design. After restoration work in 1946, which sought to restore part of its primitive appearance, the building continued to serve the asylum until the late 1980s. Currently, the space is dedicated to events and cultural activities, functioning as a Congress Centre.
The architecture of the former Church of the Third Order of Saint Francis retains some distinctive elements of its original conception. Externally, the galilee of the main façade is notable, characteristic of Franciscan architecture, formed by three round arches, the central one being larger. Above these arches, there are three straight-lintel windows.
The imposing and preserved bell tower still houses the original bell, installed in 1775, where the inscription "SOV DA ORDEM TERCEIRA DA XAMUSCA ANNO DE 1775" can be read. Inside, despite profound alterations, vestiges of artistic richness persist. The vaulted ceiling of the nave, which was hidden, revealed paintings with decorative motifs during recovery work. The walls of the nave, once adorned with frescoes, still preserve some panels. The sacristy was famous for its ceiling painted with gilded details and a built-in cabinet with carved doors, and the former House of Dispatch displayed a white ceiling with the coat of arms of Saint Francis at the centre, complemented by gold ornamentation and painted medallions on the walls.
The Third Order of Penance played a central role in the social and religious life of Chamusca for over a century. It was responsible for organizing some of the village's most popular celebrations, with emphasis on the annual festivity in honour of Saint Francis. These commemorations included a mass, a sermon, and a solemn procession, which mobilized the population and involved the participation of the friars from the Convent of Santo António, demonstrating the strong connection between the brotherhood and the local community.
In addition to the Saint Francis celebrations, the brotherhood also promoted festivities dedicated to Queen Saint Isabel and a Procession of Penance during Lent. The existence of this secular order in Chamusca, and its initiatives, shaped part of the village's cultural and spiritual calendar, leaving a historical legacy that endured until its extinction at the end of the 19th century, with its assets transferring to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.3561941,-8.4803199
Coordinates DMS: 39°21'22.3"N 08°28'49.2"W
Weather Chamusca
On-duty Pharmacy Chamusca
