McCabe Memorial Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
McCabe Memorial Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The McCabe Memorial Church (Iglesia Metodista Unida) in Barrio Playa
Location in Puerto Rico
Location	835 Eugenio Maria de Hostos Ave., Ponce, Puerto Rico
Built	1908
Architect	Antonin Nechodoma
Architectural style	Bungalow/Craftsman, Neo Gothic
NRHP reference No.	08000283
Added to NRHP	April 11, 2008

The McCabe Memorial Church, also known as Iglesia Metodista Unida de la Playa de Ponce, is a historic church building. It is located in the Barrio Playa area of Ponce, Puerto Rico. This important building was designed by Antonin Nechodoma and finished in 1908.

In 2008, the church was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is one of four special places in Barrio Playa to be listed. The others are the U.S. Customs House, the Caja de Muertos Light, and the Cardona Island Light.

Building the Church

The McCabe Memorial Church was built in the Neo Gothic style. It has strong concrete walls and a concrete foundation. The roof is made of wood and corrugated metal.

The church was built in 1908 to be a house of worship for the Methodist community in Playa de Ponce. Its original roof was made of wood shingles. The church was named to honor Bishop Charles Cardwell McCabe. He was a beloved Methodist leader who passed away just before the church was built.

A Look at Its History

The church was built in this spot because the Playa area was very important for trade in the early 1900s. Because of its busy port, Playa had many things like fishing areas, schools, hospitals, and a cemetery. About 5,169 people lived there, mostly in wooden houses. There was also a Catholic church, the Virgen del Carmen Catholic Church, built in 1882.

The Port of Ponce was very important. This is why it became an early place for new Protestant churches to start their work. These churches came to Puerto Rico right after the Spanish–American War in 1898.

The land for the church was bought on March 31, 1906. Bishop Charles McCabe donated $400 for it. Building the church started in 1907 and was finished in 1908. The total cost was $4,500. Local people called the new church La Iglesia Metodista de la Playa de Ponce. This means "The Ponce Playa Methodist Church."

Important Moments Over the Years

In 1928, a big storm called the San Felipe hurricane partly damaged the church. But the local people quickly rebuilt it. They even got help from the Catholic priest, Gonzalo Noel. Over the years, people in the area, no matter their religion, have seen the McCabe Methodist church as a special symbol of their community.

In 1946, the church opened the McCabe Memorial School. Many local children went there, no matter what their family's religion was. The school was first known as the Robinson Methodist School. Later, its name was changed to Rev. Julia Torres School. This was to honor a local teacher and religious leader. In 1960, Reverend Julia Torres, who was born in La Playa, became the first woman in Puerto Rico to become a Methodist minister. She led both the church and the school for almost 12 years.

Why This Church Is Special

The McCabe Memorial Church shows an important part of history. It represents how Protestant churches began to be established in Puerto Rico. Before this, the Catholic Church had almost complete control during the time Spain ruled the island.

The church helped to break down old barriers between the Church and the government. Before, these two were often very closely linked in Puerto Rican life. The church is also connected to Antonin Nechodoma. He was a very important architect in Puerto Rico during the 1900s.

See also

• Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Ponce: another church in Ponce, Puerto Rico
• National Register of Historic Places listings in southern Puerto Rico