Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.65417330058613, -27.21827948299734

On March 15, 1492 João Vaz Corte Real, first Captain of the Donatory of Angra, will have signed, together with João Borges (Ordinary of Angra), Afonso da Costa and other confreres, a Commitment, a document that defined the objectives for which this island the Confraria do Espírito Santo and the Hospital of Angra. The confraternities were established in temples, so by that date the Hermitage of Santo Espírito probably already existed, one of the first on the island, or else it appeared soon after, although there is no reference to the intention of the Confraria do Espírito Santo in the construction of this temple, but in the construction of a hospital. Rua de Santo Espírito, which took its name from the name of the hermitage, will probably be the oldest to connect the bay of Angra to Memória and Outeiro, where the city developed in its early days, continuing along Rua da Garoupinha and Rua Frei Diogo das Chagas.

The Chapel of Santo Espírito was then located roughly where the Misericórdia Church is today, with the façade facing Rua Direita and the back facing Rua de Santo Espírito, allowing for the practice at the time of praying facing east, towards Jerusalem. Because the Brothers of the Confraternity of the Holy Spirit assisted the practice of the Works of Mercy, namely the obligation to bury the dead, it was on the floor of this chapel that the burials of the deceased brothers were carried out.

In the years that followed 1492 (there are those who point to the date of 1495), the Hospital of Santo Espírito appeared on the east side of Rua de Santo Espírito , established shortly after the Confraternity of Espírito Santo was established, which they hurried to present to the King D. João II the claim that this hospital, the first in the Azores, would have real protection, which would be accepted by his successor King D. Manuel, by charter on March 15, 1502, creating the obligation to treat not only the needy population, but also to admit the weakened ones who arrived from sea voyages. It was the great and profitable refuge of many sick and poor people of the land and many more who came from abroad by sea, from many parts, as this city's port was a stopover for many navigations.

The current imposing and beautiful Misericórdia Church, belonging to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Angra do Heroísmo, one of the main symbols of the city, was built in the 18th century. Respecting all formalities, on October 21, 1728, the first stone was laid for the construction of this sumptuous building by the Bishop of the Diocese, D. Manuel Álvares da Costa, attended by religious, civil and military authorities and the general population. The new church, dedicated to the Lord Santo Cristo whose image is venerated here, was built in the space occupied by the previous one and by two dwelling houses that were demolished, thus growing in all dimensions. The architect Manuel d'Andrade was the master of this great work, who made it one of the most elegant churches on the island. It is estimated that 350 thousand Cruzados were spent on this grandiose work. Its construction lasted almost two decades. On June 4, 1746, by commission of Bishop D. Fr. Valério do Sacramento, this temple was blessed by the general vicar Manuel dos Santos Rolim, schoolmaster of the Cathedral.

With the earthquake of January 1, 1980, this was one of the least affected churches in Angra, having served as a repository of sacred art, taken from other churches, so that these advanced more quickly in the reconstruction process. This led to the restoration of the Igreja da Misericórdia ending quite late, with D. António de Sousa Braga proceeding on 24 May 1998 to bless and reopen this temple.

This church was visited in the past by some notable figures, notably on November 1, 1858, His Royal Highness Infante D. Luís on his visit to this Island or, on June 17, 2005, the Kings of Spain, D. Carlos and D. Sofia, in the company of the President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio and his wife.

The Misericórdia Church was classified as a National Monument by Decree No. 95/78 of September 12. Later it would be included in the classified set of the Central Zone of the City of Angra do Heroísmo by Regional Legislative Decree n.º 29/2004/A, of 24 August.

The Organ

It is one of several organs built by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira [1756-1828], one of the most notable Portuguese master organ builders, responsible for 14 of the existing organs in the Azores, already in the final phase of his career. In fact, this organ was only completed and shipped to Terceira Island in 1829, after his death, when the builder had already built more than a hundred organs. This has the number 104, being practically a “twin” of the existing one in the Convent of S. André in Ponta Delgada, which has the same number, and similar to the one that exists in the Matrix of Praia da Vitória.

With a box in a cupboard, it has parts painted with some musical motifs, as is the case with the interior of the doors that close the upper part where there are a few dozen tubes, but it turns out to be not very rich in the ornaments and carvings in the wood. It fits into the class of “positive organs”, an organ that, given its architecture and reduced size, could be moved around, as if it were a piece of furniture. This can be found in the upper choir peninsula and served perfectly to accompany liturgical chant for almost two centuries and, more recently, to accompany lyrical chant concerts, alone or with small instrumental chamber ensembles.

With a width of 1.75 m, depth of 1.30 m and height of 3.70 m, it features small tubes, integrated bellows and a manual keyboard of 4 full octaves rising to F. It has 12 registers, on the left side: Bassoon, Clarão, Composites of 22ª, Fortnight Flute 6 ab, Flute 12 tap; and on the right side: Bugle, Horn, Composite 15th, Human Voice, Travessa Flute, Flute 12 ab. On the keyboard are the words “Antonius Xaverius Machado & Cerveira / Christi Militæ Eques, Organorum Regalium Rector / Anno MDCCCXXIX Nº CIV Olisipone Fecit”. It was probably restored in 1998 by Atelier Português de Organaria, by Dinarte Machado.

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.65417330058613, -27.21827948299734

On March 15, 1492 João Vaz Corte Real, first Captain of the Donatory of Angra, will have signed, together with João Borges (Ordinary of Angra), Afonso da Costa and other confreres, a Commitment, a document that defined the objectives for which this island the Confraria do Espírito Santo and the Hospital of Angra. The confraternities were established in temples, so by that date the Hermitage of Santo Espírito probably already existed, one of the first on the island, or else it appeared soon after, although there is no reference to the intention of the Confraria do Espírito Santo in the construction of this temple, but in the construction of a hospital. Rua de Santo Espírito, which took its name from the name of the hermitage, will probably be the oldest to connect the bay of Angra to Memória and Outeiro, where the city developed in its early days, continuing along Rua da Garoupinha and Rua Frei Diogo das Chagas.

The Chapel of Santo Espírito was then located roughly where the Misericórdia Church is today, with the façade facing Rua Direita and the back facing Rua de Santo Espírito, allowing for the practice at the time of praying facing east, towards Jerusalem. Because the Brothers of the Confraternity of the Holy Spirit assisted the practice of the Works of Mercy, namely the obligation to bury the dead, it was on the floor of this chapel that the burials of the deceased brothers were carried out.

In the years that followed 1492 (there are those who point to the date of 1495), the Hospital of Santo Espírito appeared on the east side of Rua de Santo Espírito , established shortly after the Confraternity of Espírito Santo was established, which they hurried to present to the King D. João II the claim that this hospital, the first in the Azores, would have real protection, which would be accepted by his successor King D. Manuel, by charter on March 15, 1502, creating the obligation to treat not only the needy population, but also to admit the weakened ones who arrived from sea voyages. It was the great and profitable refuge of many sick and poor people of the land and many more who came from abroad by sea, from many parts, as this city's port was a stopover for many navigations.

The current imposing and beautiful Misericórdia Church, belonging to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Angra do Heroísmo, one of the main symbols of the city, was built in the 18th century. Respecting all formalities, on October 21, 1728, the first stone was laid for the construction of this sumptuous building by the Bishop of the Diocese, D. Manuel Álvares da Costa, attended by religious, civil and military authorities and the general population. The new church, dedicated to the Lord Santo Cristo whose image is venerated here, was built in the space occupied by the previous one and by two dwelling houses that were demolished, thus growing in all dimensions. The architect Manuel d'Andrade was the master of this great work, who made it one of the most elegant churches on the island. It is estimated that 350 thousand Cruzados were spent on this grandiose work. Its construction lasted almost two decades. On June 4, 1746, by commission of Bishop D. Fr. Valério do Sacramento, this temple was blessed by the general vicar Manuel dos Santos Rolim, schoolmaster of the Cathedral.

With the earthquake of January 1, 1980, this was one of the least affected churches in Angra, having served as a repository of sacred art, taken from other churches, so that these advanced more quickly in the reconstruction process. This led to the restoration of the Igreja da Misericórdia ending quite late, with D. António de Sousa Braga proceeding on 24 May 1998 to bless and reopen this temple.

This church was visited in the past by some notable figures, notably on November 1, 1858, His Royal Highness Infante D. Luís on his visit to this Island or, on June 17, 2005, the Kings of Spain, D. Carlos and D. Sofia, in the company of the President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio and his wife.

The Misericórdia Church was classified as a National Monument by Decree No. 95/78 of September 12. Later it would be included in the classified set of the Central Zone of the City of Angra do Heroísmo by Regional Legislative Decree n.º 29/2004/A, of 24 August.

The Organ

It is one of several organs built by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira [1756-1828], one of the most notable Portuguese master organ builders, responsible for 14 of the existing organs in the Azores, already in the final phase of his career. In fact, this organ was only completed and shipped to Terceira Island in 1829, after his death, when the builder had already built more than a hundred organs. This has the number 104, being practically a “twin” of the existing one in the Convent of S. André in Ponta Delgada, which has the same number, and similar to the one that exists in the Matrix of Praia da Vitória.

With a box in a cupboard, it has parts painted with some musical motifs, as is the case with the interior of the doors that close the upper part where there are a few dozen tubes, but it turns out to be not very rich in the ornaments and carvings in the wood. It fits into the class of “positive organs”, an organ that, given its architecture and reduced size, could be moved around, as if it were a piece of furniture. This can be found in the upper choir peninsula and served perfectly to accompany liturgical chant for almost two centuries and, more recently, to accompany lyrical chant concerts, alone or with small instrumental chamber ensembles.

With a width of 1.75 m, depth of 1.30 m and height of 3.70 m, it features small tubes, integrated bellows and a manual keyboard of 4 full octaves rising to F. It has 12 registers, on the left side: Bassoon, Clarão, Composites of 22ª, Fortnight Flute 6 ab, Flute 12 tap; and on the right side: Bugle, Horn, Composite 15th, Human Voice, Travessa Flute, Flute 12 ab. On the keyboard are the words “Antonius Xaverius Machado & Cerveira / Christi Militæ Eques, Organorum Regalium Rector / Anno MDCCCXXIX Nº CIV Olisipone Fecit”. It was probably restored in 1998 by Atelier Português de Organaria, by Dinarte Machado.