Our Lady of Bethlehem (chapel)
Original title: Nossa Senhora de Belém (Capela de)
Extinct chapel of Our Lady of Bethlehem at Câmara de Lobos, founded in 1649 and rebuilt in 1758; also notes a namesake chapel at Porto da Cruz.
In the parish (freguesia) of Câmara de Lobos (‘seals’ den’) there was a chapel, now extinct, of Our Lady of Bethlehem (Nossa Senhora de Belém), which stood in the locality (sítio) of that name. It was founded in 1649 by Gaspar Vasconcelos Henriques and his wife Dona Bernardina de Carvalho, and the deed by which they made the endowment of this chapel is dated 9 February of the same year. When it fell into ruin, it was rebuilt in 1758 by Dom Francisco Inácio Telo de Meneses, a descendant of the founders. The new chapel was built a short distance from the old one, next to the residence, with which it communicated internally. In the locality of Referta (‘refuge’), at Porto da Cruz (‘harbour of the cross’), there was a chapel with the dedication of Our Lady of Bethlehem, which was later renamed Our Lady of Succour (Nossa Senhora do Socorro). See Our Lady of Succour (chapels).
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Years mentioned · 02Place
Places mentioned · 05- Chapel of Our Lady of Bethlehem · Subject
Machico
Extinct chapel of Our Lady of Bethlehem at Câmara de Lobos, founded in 1649 and rebuilt in 1758. The entry also notes a chapel of the same name at Porto da Cruz.
- Câmara de Lobos
Parish of 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.
- Porto da Cruz
Machico. Parish containing the Referta.
North-coast parish created in 1577 and noted for good-quality wines. It was transferred from Santana to Machico municipality in 1852 and was the seat of a capitania-mor. It was also a fishing port where some sperm whales were landed.
- Referta
Machico. Site of another chapel of this dedication, later renamed.
Locality in the parish of Porto da Cruz. It was the site of a chapel of Nossa Senhora de Belém, later renamed, and it gave its name to an entailed estate.
People
People mentioned · 03-
Wife of Gaspar Vasconcelos Henriques and co-founder of the chapel.
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Descendant of the founders who rebuilt the chapel in 1758.
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Co-founder of the chapel in 1649.