Holy Spirit (chapels)

Describing the exploration of the island made by the discoverers in order to divide it into captaincies, Gaspar Frutuoso says: ‘... João Gonsalves Zarco... reaching a height above Câmara de Lobos (‘seals’ den’), marked out there where a church of the Holy Spirit should be built... and all these heights he took for his heirs.’ This chapel, rebuilt more than once, still exists and is in a good state of repair. It was founded by the discoverer of Madeira himself and served for many years as the parish church when the parish (freguesia) of Câmara de Lobos was created in 1430. Around 1720 it was rebuilt because of the advanced state of ruin it was in, and in 1908 major repairs were also carried out on it and on the small house attached to it. Although perhaps nothing remains of the original building, the chapel is nonetheless a small historic monument for the municipality (concelho) and parish of Câmara de Lobos, recalling the name of the discoverer of Madeira who had it built, and also because it housed the parish when the parish was created, as already stated. In the locality (sítio) of Campo de Baixo (‘lower field’) on the island of Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’) stands the chapel of Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit), which is well preserved and where services are held. It is not of recent construction and was completely restored in the first quarter of the 19th century by Captain Sebastião António Drumond.