Church of Chonchi facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Chonchi, Chiloé Island, Chiloé Province, Los Lagos Region, Chile |
| Part of | Churches of Chiloé |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iii) |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
| Area | 0.4 ha (0.99 acres) |
The Church of Chonchi is also known as the Church of St Charles Borromeo. It is a Catholic church located in Chonchi, a town on Chiloé Island in southern Chile. This beautiful church is a very important building.
The Church of Chonchi was named a National Monument of Chile in 1971. It is also one of 16 Churches of Chiloé that are part of a special group. These churches were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites on November 30, 2000. This means they are important to the whole world.
Contents
Building the Church of Chonchi
When Was It Built?
The Church of Chonchi was built in 1893. It was one of many churches constructed on Chiloé Island. Jesuit missionaries started building churches there in the 1600s. Later, Franciscan missionaries continued this work in the 1700s and 1800s.
Special Wood Architecture
About 150 churches were built on Chiloé Island over time. Today, only around 60 of these old churches still stand. The Church of Chonchi is one of the 16 churches that UNESCO chose as a World Heritage Site. These churches are special because they are built entirely from wood.
This unique style is called Chilotan architecture. It shows a mix of cultures, known as mestizo culture. Local builders used skills they learned from building ships to construct these churches. This made the churches very strong and beautiful.
Church Design and Features
The Church of Chonchi is quite large. It is 45 meters long and 18 meters wide. The church also has a tall bell tower that reaches 23 meters high. In March 2002, a big storm caused the bell tower to fall down. But don't worry, it was rebuilt and looks just like it did before!
Like other churches in this style, it has a curved entrance. The front of the church is symmetrical, meaning both sides match. It is painted in bright blue, white, and yellow colors. You can also see stars decorating its facade.
Religious Importance
Who is the Patron Saint?
The special protector of the Church of Chonchi is Charles Borromeo. He is the church's patron saint. People celebrate his feast day every year on November 4.
Part of the Diocese
This church belongs to the San Carlos parish in Chonchi. A parish is like a local church community. The San Carlos parish is one of 24 parishes in the Diocese of Ancud. A diocese is a larger area of churches led by a bishop. Bishop Juan Maria Florindo Agurto Muñoz oversees this diocese.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Chonchi) para niños
