Convent of St Francis in Calheta
Original title: Convento de São Francisco da Calheta
The small Franciscan friary at Calheta, built from alms around 1670 on land bought by Pedro Bettencourt de Athouguia, and later sold by the state into private hands. It was the most modest convent in Madeira, with few friars and a small church.
The convent of the Franciscan friars of São Francisco, at Calheta (‘small cove’),’ says a note in ‘Longing for the Homeland’ (Saudades da Terra), ‘was built from alms around the year 1670, on land bought by the devout Pedro Bettencourt de Athouguia, who later took the habit of a lay brother in the Convent of São Bernardino (St Bernardino of Siena). It is private property because it was sold by the Public Treasury.
It was the most modest of the convents of Madeira and always had a very small number of friars. The building was small, and the church, too, was of cramped dimensions.