Church of Detif facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| Location | Detif, Puqueldón, Lemuy Island, Chiloé Province, Los Lagos Region, Chile |
| Part of | Churches of Chiloé |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iii) |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
| Area | 4.87 ha (12.0 acres) |
The Church of Detif (in Spanish, Iglesia de Detif) is a beautiful Catholic church. You can find it in the small town of Detif, which is part of the Puqueldón area. This town is located on Lemuy Island in the Chiloé Archipelago, way down south in Chile.
This special church was named a National Monument of Chile in 1999. A year later, on November 30, 2000, it became even more famous. It joined 15 other churches from Chiloé to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's a very important place for everyone in the world to protect!
The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Her special day is celebrated on March 25 each year. The Church of Detif is part of the San Pedro Nolasco parish in Puqueldón. This parish is one of 24 that belong to the Diocese of Ancud.
Building the Church of Detif
The very first chapel in Detif was built a long time ago, in 1734. The church you see today was constructed at the start of the 1800s. It stands right in the middle of the town, very close to the beach.
How it was Built
The builders used a strong stone base for the church. This helped protect the wood from moisture in the ground. The main parts of the church were made from local wood. They used coigue (a type of beech tree) and alerce (a giant cypress tree). The outside of the church was covered with alerce wood tiles.
It was hard to find metal like iron nails on Lemuy and Chiloé. So, the builders used wooden rivets instead of metal nails. This shows how clever the people were!
Keeping it Beautiful
The Church of Detif has been carefully repaired a few times. It was restored in 1996 and again in 2001. During the second restoration, some of the tiles on the front of the church were replaced with new panels. This helps keep the church strong and looking great for many more years.
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