Huelva Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Huelva Cathedral |
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| Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy | |
| Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Merced | |
The front of the cathedral, known as the west façade, in 2024.
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| 37°15′46″N 6°57′09″W / 37.2628°N 6.9525°W | |
| Location | Huelva |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Convent of Our Lady of Mercy |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Virgin of Mercy |
| Dedicated | 15 March 1954 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Ambrosio de Figueroa |
| Style | Baroque, Neoclassical, Colonial |
| Years built | 1605—1877 |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Seville |
| Diocese | Huelva (since 1953) |
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in the city of Huelva, in the Andalusia region of Spain. It is the main church for the Diocese of Huelva, which means it's the home church for the local bishop. The cathedral has a long and interesting history, including surviving major earthquakes.
Contents
A Story of Survival and Change
The building we see today wasn't always a cathedral. It has gone through many changes over hundreds of years.
From Convent to Church
The story of the cathedral begins in 1605. It was first built as a convent church for a religious group called the Mercedarian Order. The old convent building next door is now used by the University of Huelva.
Sadly, several powerful earthquakes in the 18th century badly damaged the first church. It had to be rebuilt. The new church was finished in 1775 in a style called Neoclassical. This style was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings and was known for being grand and orderly.
In the 1830s, the Spanish government took over many properties owned by religious groups. The Mercedarian Order had to leave the convent, but the building continued to be used as a church.
Becoming a Cathedral
For a long time, Huelva was part of the Archdiocese of Seville. But in 1953, Huelva got its own diocese (a church district with its own bishop). A main church, or cathedral, was needed for the new diocese.
On 15 March 1954, this church was officially named the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy. This was a very important moment in its history.
Modern Times and Restoration
In 1915, two special bell towers, called bell-gables, were added to the front of the building to hold new bells.
Another strong earthquake hit the area on 28 February 1969. The cathedral was damaged again and had to be closed for safety. From 1970 to 1977, a major restoration project was led by architect Rafael Manzano Martos to repair the building and make it strong again.
Because of its long history and beautiful architecture, the church was declared a National Monument of Spain on 12 March 1970.
Gallery
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The front of the cathedral as seen from the public square, Plaza de la Merced.
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A view inside the cathedral, showing the main aisle and the main altar at the far end.
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The Chapel of Jesus of the Chains, a small area for prayer inside the cathedral.
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The Chapel of Saint Roch, another of the cathedral's side chapels.
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A statue of the Virgin of the Ribbon, which is displayed on the main altar.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Huelva) para niños
