Nuestra Señora de Lourdes Chapel facts for kids
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Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
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Detail of chapel facade, with gargoyles, celtic cross, and stained-glass windows
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 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Ponce de León and Miramar Aves., Santurce, Puerto Rico |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Antonin Nechodoma |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival, Other, Neo-Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003171 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 27, 1984 |
Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel (also known as Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Spanish) is a beautiful old church building in the Miramar area of Santurce, Puerto Rico. It's famous for its special neo-Gothic style. A Czech architect named Antonin Nechodoma designed it, and it was built in 1908.
Contents
History of the Chapel
Building a Special Place
The land for the chapel was bought in 1906. The first stone was laid in 1907, like the start of a big puzzle. Antonin Nechodoma, a talented architect from the Czech Republic who lived in Puerto Rico, created the design. The chapel officially opened its doors in 1908.
Changing Hands
When it first opened, the chapel was used by a Methodist Episcopal church. Later, another group called the Union Church used it. On February 17, 1959, the owners, Pedro Santiago and Catalina Mejía de Santiago, gave the building as a gift to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico.
Becoming a Historic Site
Because of its unique design and long history, the chapel was added to important lists of historic places. It joined the National Register for Historic Places on September 25, 1984. Later, on February 3, 2000, it was also added to the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones.
Bringing the Chapel Back to Life
By 1982, the chapel was empty and starting to fall apart. A person named Elba Armstrong decided to help. She started a project to fix it up. With help from the Lourdes Association, the first part of the restoration cost about $24,300. Armstrong worked with architect Pablo Ojeda O'Neill and got money from both private groups and the government.
In 1987, the 24 beautiful stained-glass windows were fixed. This cost $13,500, thanks to a gift from the Angel Ramos Foundation. From 1990 to 1991, the roof was repaired. The Senate of Puerto Rico gave $10,000, and the Angel Ramos Foundation gave another $5,000.
In 1992, two specific stained-glass windows, "Jesus and the Children" and "Holy Spirit," were restored. This was possible with a $22,000 gift from Esso Standard Oil Company. The damaged frames around the windows were also rebuilt. In 1993, the floor around the altar was replaced with new wooden floors that looked just like the old ones. This was done with a $19,000 gift from a Puerto Rican committee. Also, a special floor design called a mosaic was found and put in the side hall, the sacristy (a room where priests prepare), and the bathroom.
The furniture and doors in the sacristy were designed by Ojeda and made from mahogany wood. The chapel's bell was made in Spain.
Chapel Architecture
The chapel has a bell tower with four gargoyles. These gargoyles are like decorative spouts that help drain rainwater away from the building. The tower has double arches with slightly pointed tops. The front of the chapel also has a large stained-glass window with a smaller one above it. A celtic cross sits at the very top of the church. The windows on the sides also have colorful stained glass. Inside, the chapel is simple with wooden finishes. It has one main room with an A-frame roof, which means the roof looks like the letter "A".
Gallery
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Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel (2016)
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See also
In Spanish: Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (Santurce) para niños
