Church of Our Lady of Calhau
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Calhau
Santa Maria Maior · Funchal
parish of Santa Maria Maior, Funchal, on the left bank of the Ribeira de João Gomes, Madeira
Exact site unknown; shown at the parish
The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Calhau was Funchal's first parish church, begun around 1438 on the shore by the left bank of the Ribeira de João Gomes. It was repeatedly damaged by floods and destroyed by the great flood of 1803; its chancel was kept as a memorial until the ruins were demolished in 1835 for a market.
1Mentioned in
- Misericórdias — Parish church whose records mention the old and new hospitals.
- Patron saints — Church destroyed by the 1803 flood, intended destination of the new procession.
- Old Funchal — Funchal's first parish church, destroyed by the 1803 flood.
- Parishes — Chapel built c.1438, first seat of Funchal's parish.
- St James the Less (church) — Former parish church swept away by the 1803 flood.
- Santa Maria Maior (parish) — The original parish church near the beach.
- Flash floods — Parish church swept away in 1803; its chancel was kept as a memorial.
- Settlement and colonisation — Built by Prince Henry; parish seat from 1438.
- Nossa Senhora da Estrela (chapel) — Parish church whose old records mention another chapel of Our Lady of the Star in 1632.
- Poço (square) — The former church stood a short distance from the square.
- Nova de Santa Maria (street) — Former church that gave both streets their name.
- St Catherine (chapel) — Claimed by Frutuoso as among the first churches, a claim the entry rejects.
- União Market — Ruined church whose tower and remains were demolished to build the market in 1835.
- Diocese (creation of the) — Its vicar directed religious affairs on the island before the diocese.
- Funchal Cathedral (the Sé) — Former parish seat transferred to the new church in 1508.
- Sé (parish) — First seat of Santa Maria Maior parish.
- Cão (Friar Nuno) — Early church where he exercised parish duties.
- City gates — Gates were opened between it and the fortress.
- Afonso (João) — Church with the Espírito Santo chapel where he was buried.
2Chronology
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The church of Nossa Senhora do Calhau was built and became seat of Santa Maria Maior, Funchal's first parish.
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A royal charter divided Funchal's single parish into the Sé and Santa Maria Maior (Calhau) parishes and created a collegiate body for the church.
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A chapel of Nossa Senhora da Estrela is recorded in the Calhau parish.
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The great flood of 9 October 1803, considered Madeira's greatest calamity, devastated Funchal and other parts of the island, killing about 600 people and destroying the Calhau church, stream walls, bridges and chapels in Machico, Santa Cruz and elsewhere. It prompted Oudinot's mission and the city's spread outwards.
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A royal order directed that the ruins of the Calhau church be preserved as a memorial of the flood.
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After the Funchal council sought leave on 12 June to demolish the remains of the Calhau church, the União market was built on its ruins.