Iglesia de San Agustín (La Serena) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de San Agustín |
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| 29°54′07″S 71°14′48″W / 29.9020°S 71.2466°W | |
| Location | Arturo Prat 690, La Serena |
| Country | Chile |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Eclectic |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of La Serena |
The Church of St Augustine is a Catholic church located in La Serena, Chile. It is a special building where people go to worship and has a long, interesting history.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Days and Challenges
The very first Church of St Augustine was built a long time ago, in 1672. It was constructed by a group called the Society of Jesus. Sadly, in 1680, a pirate named Bartholomew Sharp set the church on fire.
Later, in 1768, another group of priests, the Augustinians, started taking care of the church.
Rebuilding After Disasters
The church tower faced many challenges over the years. In 1798, a big storm damaged the top part of the tower. It was fixed quickly the next year.
Then, in 1847, an earthquake caused more serious damage to the tower. A builder named Juan Herbage helped rebuild it three years later. In 1903, another earthquake shook the church, causing damage.
Even worse, in 1912, the church burned down completely. But people worked hard, and it was rebuilt in 1913. This new church had three main sections inside, called naves.
Modern Reconstructions
In 1959, another fire destroyed the rebuilt church. It also suffered severe damage from the 1975 Coquimbo earthquake.
The most recent rebuilding of the church began in 1985. An architect named Pedro Broquedis led this big project. The work was finished in 1994, which was the 450th anniversary of the founding of La Serena.
The church officially reopened on August 18, 1995. However, church services had already started again in a part of the building in 1990. Since 2002, the Order of Augustinian Recollects has been managing the church.
Location and Style
The Church of St Augustine is located in La Serena, at the corner of Arturo Prat and Cienfuegos streets. It faces a place called La Recova. The church's design is described as eclectic, meaning it combines different styles of architecture.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Agustín (La Serena) para niños
