Church of Analco, Puebla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Analco, Puebla |
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| Temple of the Holy Angel Custodian of Analco | |
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Templo del Santo Ángel Custodio de Analco
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The church's exterior in 2011
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 Church of Analco, Puebla
Location in Mexico
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| 19°02′19.6″N 98°11′34″W / 19.038778°N 98.19278°W | |
| Location | Analco, Puebla |
| Country | Mexico |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1619 |
| Founder(s) | Alonso de Rivera Barrientos |
| Dedication | Santo Ángel de la Guarda |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Baroque |
| Years built | 1618–1632 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Masonry and stone |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Puebla de los Ángeles |
The Church of Analco is a historic Roman Catholic church in Puebla, Mexico. Its full name is the Church of the Holy Angel Custodian of Analco. It is dedicated to the Guardian Angel of Puebla. This church is located in Analco, one of Puebla's oldest neighborhoods. Many indigenous people live in this area.
History of the Church
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The Church of Analco was built where a smaller, older building once stood. This older building was a hermitage, a small chapel for prayer. It was built in 1560 by the Mixtec and Tlaxcala indigenous peoples. This first hermitage was dedicated to the souls in purgatory.
In 1618, a leader named Alonso de Rivera Barrientos had the old hermitage taken down. He wanted to build a new, larger church. This new church was dedicated to the guardian angel of Puebla. The city council officially opened the church in 1619.
Over time, more people, both indigenous and Spanish, moved to Analco. The community grew, and in 1626, they needed more land. A bridge was also built to connect the church area to the main city. In 1627, the Franciscans, a group of Catholic priests, began to manage the church. They already had a convent nearby.
On October 13, 1627, Bishop Bernardo Gutiérrez de Quirós arrived. He made the church a "parish" of Analco. This meant it became a more important church with its own community. To match its new status, the church began a renovation project. Spanish residents donated money, and the native people of Analco worked hard to help.
In 1640, the Bishop of Puebla, Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, made a change. He "secularized" the church. This meant it was no longer managed by a religious order like the Franciscans. Instead, it was managed by a "diocesan priest," Fernando Díaz de Talavera, who worked directly for the bishop. In 1767, a new chapel was added to the church. It was dedicated to the Virgin of Tzocuilac.
Church Design and Art
The Church of Analco is built in an indigenous Baroque style. It uses strong stone and mortar. The main figure on the front of the church, called the "façade," is the Archangel Michael. Above the front door, there is a Latin message that says: ANGELE SANCTE DEI SIT SEMPER CUSTOS MEI. This means "Holy Angel of God, always guard me."
Two tall towers stand on either side of the church's front. The tower on the south side was built in the 1600s. The tower on the north side was built later, in the late 1700s.
Inside, the church has one main open space called a "nave." It also has a simple "crossing" area and a dome. The dome does not have a tall base, called a "drum." It is decorated with carvings of archangels. These angels are dressed like Roman soldiers. The original Baroque altarpieces, called "retables," were changed in the 1800s. They were replaced with new ones in a Neoclassical style. The main retable shows a guardian angel protecting a small child.
On the right side of the church (called the "epistle side"), there is a chapel known as the Chapel of Veronica. It has one nave. Inside, you can see a sculpture of Jesus falling three times, made by Manuel de la Paz. Next to this chapel is the "baptistery," where baptisms take place. It is surrounded by a beautiful screen made of wrought-iron. This screen is dated March 16, 1780.
On the left side of the church (called the "gospel side"), there is another chapel. This one is dedicated to the Virgin of Tzocuilac. It has a larger and more ornate wrought-iron screen. Roque Jaramillo de Illescas donated this screen in 1767. A legend says that a painting of the Virgin Mary was miraculously preserved on a wall exposed to the weather. This chapel also has a special painting that creates an optical illusion, called a trompe l'oeil, of the Virgin Mary.
Discoveries from the Past
On June 15, 1999, an earthquake damaged the church towers. A project began to repair and restore them. During this work, something surprising was found. People thought the south tower was solid and just for decoration. But it turned out to be hollow inside! It was used during the 1600s and 1700s.
Inside the tower, workers found parts of a spiral staircase that led up to the bells. They also found human and animal bones. A collection of old objects was discovered too. These objects included different types of pottery, like majolica and Talavera pottery, and red clay tiles. These items were from the late 1600s to the early 1800s. Other things found were leather shoes, glass, stone objects, wood, and baskets. These discoveries showed that the tower was used until the late 1700s or early 1800s.
The restoration project also uncovered a painting on a gray stone slab. This painting might be of the Immaculate Conception or the Virgin of the Light. Based on its style and colors, experts believe a Spanish-trained artist created it in the mid-1800s. The stone slab was found broken into two pieces. It is thought to have come from a tomb. This is because the church's courtyard was used as a cemetery until the 1800s.
See also
In Spanish: Templo de Analco (Puebla) para niños
