Our Lady of Help (chapel)
Original title: Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. (Capela de)
The chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda in São Martinho, founded by the Favila family as seat of the Piornais entail, restored in 1876 and briefly placed under interdict in 1916.
Abroad
Almost beside the road that leads from the Ponte Monumental (‘monumental bridge’) to the town (vila) of Câmara de Lobos (‘seals’ den’) stands the chapel of Our Lady of Help (Nossa Senhora da Ajuda). It was built by Fernão Favila on the estate he owned in São Martinho (‘St Martin’), and he made it the seat of an entailed estate (morgadio). This Fernão Favila was a nobleman of the Royal Household (fidalgo da Casa Real) and fought valiantly in Africa, afterwards settling on this island, where he married Beatriz Pires. Other genealogists, however, state that it was António Favila, son of Fernão Favila, who founded the entail (morgado) of the Piornais (‘broom thickets’), with its seat in the chapel of Ajuda, where he lies buried, having died in October 1545. Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) Manuel José Vieira, as owner of this chapel, carried out major restorations there in 1876, and it was blessed on 16 August of that year.
In 1916 the owner of this chapel, Manuel José de Perestrelo Favila Vieira, published a pamphlet of 15 pages entitled A Interdição da capela de N. S. da Ajuda na freguesia de São Martinho. Antecedentes e exposição de factos. It deals with the interdict placed on the chapel by the diocesan prelate, Dom António Manuel Pereira Ribeiro, because the prelate had been refused a visit to the chapel during the canonical visitation he made to the parish (freguesia) of São Martinho in 1916. A few months later the interdict was lifted and the chapel was restored to worship.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 03-
António Favila died and was buried in the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda.
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Manuel José Vieira restored the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, which was blessed on 16 August 1876.
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The bishop placed the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda under interdict after his visit was refused; it was lifted months later.
Place
Places mentioned · 06- Chapel of Our Lady of Help · Subject
Funchal
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda on Madeira. In Serra de Água it is recorded as an existing chapel that became the parish church and was enlarged around 1699. A chapel of this name in São Martinho was founded by Fernão Favela as the seat of the Piornais entail and family burial place; it was restored in 1876 and briefly placed under interdict in 1916.
- Africa
Where Fernão Favila fought.
Africa is referred to as a destination of Madeiran expeditions, soldiers and exiled convicts, and as an export market for Madeiran butter. The explorers Capelo and Ivens crossed the continent, and North Africa is noted as the origin of the date palm.
- Câmara de Lobos
Destination of the road beside the chapel.
Parish west of Funchal. The Elucidário traces its name to Zarco's discovery voyage and describes its churches, chapels and collegiate chapter, early settlers, fishing community and renowned vineyards. It also records the parish's localities, boundaries, levadas and population.
- Piornais
Funchal. Gives its name to the entail seated at the chapel.
Piornais is the principal locality of São Martinho parish in Funchal. It was the seat of the entail founded by Fernão Favela, based at the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, and its levada was dealt with in royal letters of 1562.
- Ponte Monumental
Funchal. Starting point of the road beside which the chapel stands.
The Ponte Monumental is a bridge in Funchal over the Ribeiro Seco. It was built under governor José Silvestre Ribeiro, and Emperor Maximilian of Mexico contributed generously to its construction in 1852. The Praça do Ribeiro Seco (Largo de António Nobre) lies beside it, and the road on which the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda stands begins there.
- São Martinho
Funchal. Parish where the chapel and Favila estate lie.
São Martinho is a suburban parish west of Funchal, created in 1579 from São Pedro and partly added to the city in 1927. It had sugar factories, grew Tinta vines, and has characteristic volcanic bombs. It is the reputed birthplace of D. Nuno de Aguiar.
People
People mentioned · 05-
Son of Fernão Favila, named by other genealogists as founder of the Piornais entail; buried in the chapel.
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Wife of Fernão Favila.
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Bishop of Funchal who laid an interdict on the chapel in 1916 after being refused a visit.
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Royal-household nobleman who fought in Africa, settled in Madeira and, per some genealogists, built the chapel.
- Manuel José Vieira1836–1912
Owner of the chapel who restored it in 1876 and in 1916 published a pamphlet on its interdict.