New Convent

This is the building of the present Diocesan Seminary. (1921). The annotator of the Saudades says that it was an undertaking of Father Manuel Afonso Rocha, begun around 1654 and intended for nuns, but that it was never completed. In an old manuscript we found some further detailed references to this projected convent, which we reproduce below.

On 17 December 1638 Canon Manuel Afonso Rocha, confined to his bed by a serious illness, summoned a notary and also requested the presence of the diocesan prelate, Dom Jerónimo Fernando. He declared that he had begun a monastery, comprising houses, workshops, a church and a choir, under the dedication of São José (St Joseph), intended for monks or nuns on condition that certain Masses and offices were celebrated. As he had not yet completed it, he entrusted its government and administration to the protection of the same prelate and his successors. He asked them only to apply it to that purpose or to a recolhimento (religious retreat house for women) for ladies or women of quality; should that not be possible, the monastery with its church and houses was to be given to virtuous mendicant friars or to other religious who might render greater service to God there. Canon Rocha’s request and conditions were accepted, but because income was scarce the building was never put to the use its founder had intended for it. We also believe that the planned works were never completed, for it seems to us that there was never a church and choir there, but only a small chantry (capela) inside the house. In 1647 the diocesan prelate authorised the founder’s nephews, Canon António Espranger Rocha and his brother Father Inacio Espranger, together with some of their sisters, to live in the building. After their deaths the house was occupied by a nephew of theirs, Canon António Espranger, who died in 1691.

Some years later, around 1697, the Diocesan Seminary was installed there; until then it had operated beside the bishop's palace (Paço Episcopal). The earthquake of 1748 left the house of the New Convent (Mosteiro Novo) badly damaged, and it had to be abandoned. After suitable repairs, it served once more as the seminary from around 1760. In 1788 the Diocesan Seminary was transferred to the Jesuit College (Colégio dos Jesuítas), and from there it returned to the New Convent in 1801, when Madeira was occupied by British troops. It remained there until 1909, when it was installed in the spacious building erected in the convent grounds of the convent of the Incarnation. The seminary of this diocese was suppressed by the decree of 20 April 1911, but it has continued to operate since that year, without official status, in the old house in Rua do Mosteiro Novo. (1921).