Teles da Silva (Dom Friar António)
Original title: Teles da Silva (D. Fr. António)
Benedictine friar who was the eleventh bishop of Funchal (1675–1682), creating several parishes and holding a diocesan synod.
The prelate Dom Gabriel de Almeida, who died in this city in July 1674, was succeeded in this diocese by Dom Friar António Teles da Silva, the eleventh bishop of Funchal. The see was vacant only briefly, which did not always happen in the overseas bishoprics, since Dom António Teles da Silva was appointed, confirmed and consecrated immediately after his predecessor’s death.
His confirmation by Clement X is dated 16 December 1674; he received episcopal consecration the following January and took charge of his diocese on 25 April 1675.
He was the son of João Gomes da Silva, commander and alcaide-mor of Seiaz and regedor (parish administrative officer) of the Justices. He had taken vows in the Order of St Benedict and was a deputy of the tribunal of the Junta da Cruzada when the prince regent, later King Peter II, presented him as bishop of this diocese.
During his episcopate the parishes of Camacha, Serra de Água, Prazeres and Arco de São Jorge were created. He also obtained the creation of several curacies, under the prince regent’s resolution of 20 October 1676.
He enlarged the old bishop's palace (Paço Episcopal) and held a diocesan synod on 6 June 1680. He died in this city on 14 February 1682 and lies buried in the chancel of the Cathedral (Sé Catedral), having led this diocese for seven years.
We know nothing more of his episcopal administration, but Dom António Caetano de Sousa says of him that he ‘left an honoured memory of his name’.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 05-
Pope Clement X confirmed D. Fr. António Teles da Silva as bishop of Funchal.
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D. Fr. António Teles da Silva took charge of the diocese of Funchal.
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Following the prince regent's resolution of October 1676, royal charters of D. Pedro II dated 28 December 1676 created several new parishes and curacies, including Paul do Mar, Prazeres, Santa Luzia, Camacha, Serra de Água, Arco de São Jorge, Achadas da Cruz, Estreito and Arco da Calheta; collegiate benefices at Câmara de Lobos were abolished to fund some of them.
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Bishop D. Fr. António Teles da Silva held a diocesan synod in Funchal.
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Bishop D. Frei António Teles da Silva died in Funchal.
Place
Places mentioned · 06
- Arco de São Jorge
Santana. Parish created during his episcopate.
North-coast parish of the municipality of Santana, separated from São Jorge in 1676, over which the Pico do Arco de São Jorge (837 m) rises. It still had no cemetery in 1862 and became a julgado of the Funchal comarca in 1927. It is linked to Boaventura by a path across the Entrosa escarpment, and its forests were damaged in the 1919 fire.
- Bishop's palace
Funchal. Bishop's palace he enlarged.
The old bishops' palace in Funchal, built in 1751 after the 1748 earthquake and enlarged by Bishop Teles da Silva, with the bishop's São Luís chapel beside it. It housed the seminary and lodged the nuncio. From 1914 it was taken over by the lyceum, forcing the Câmara Eclesiástica to move, and paintings and vestments from it went to the Archaeological Museum.
- Camacha
Santa Cruz. Parish created during his episcopate.
Camacha is an upland parish above Caniço in Santa Cruz municipality, founded in 1676 with its seat in the São Lourenço chapel. The Elucidário covers its church, role in the 1828 Miguelist invasion, quintas, levadas, the Poiso shelter house, its Pentecost pilgrimage, women's padded skirts, its plants and gardens, and its famous wickerwork industry started by Hinton.
- Funchal Cathedral (the Sé)
Funchal. He is buried in its chancel.
The Sé do Funchal is the cathedral of Funchal, in the parish of Sé. It was begun in 1493, became a parish seat in 1508 and a cathedral in 1514. It was the starting point of processions and the place of the vow to São Tiago, and bishops are buried there.
- Prazeres
Calheta. Parish created during his episcopate.
Prazeres is a parish in the Calheta area of western Madeira, named after an early hermitage of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres and formed partly from land of Fajã da Ovelha. It was created in 1676, suppressed in 1700, restored as a curacy separated from Estreito da Calheta in 1733 and later made autonomous again; it is irrigated by the Levada Velha do Rabaçal.
- Serra de Água
Ribeira Brava. Parish created during his episcopate.
Serra de Água is an inland parish of Ribeira Brava whose name recalls former water-powered sawmills; it was created as a vicarage in 1676 and in 1834 formed part of Funchal municipality. It borders Estreito de Câmara de Lobos and the Encumeada pass, where a rest house was built in 1939, is a cherry-growing area, and was the planned site of a hydro-electric power station.
People
People mentioned · 06-
Eleventh bishop of Funchal (1675–1682), a Benedictine.
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Genealogist quoted praising his memory.
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Pope who confirmed his appointment in 1674.
- D. Fr. Gabriel de Almeidad. 1674
Bishop of Funchal who died in July 1674 and was his predecessor.
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His father, commander and alcaide-mor, regedor das Justiças.
- Peter IId. 1706
Prince regent, later king, who presented him as bishop.