Regina Coeli Convent Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Regina Coeli Convent Church |
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Iglesia del Convento de Regina Coeli
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish church |
| Year consecrated | 1731 |
| Location | |
| Location | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Churrigueresque |
| Groundbreaking | 1573 |
| Materials | masonry and tezontle |
The Regina Coeli Convent Church is a Roman Catholic church in the historic center of Mexico City. It stands at the corner of Regina and Bolivar Streets.
This church is the only part still working from a large convent built in the 1500s. The church itself was built in the 1700s in a fancy style called Churrigueresque. It used to be part of a convent for Conceptionist nuns. The convent closed during a time of conflict called the Reform War and is usually not open to visitors. However, the church is still open for people to worship and visit. It has many beautiful, original altars from the 1700s, covered in gold. One special altar, dedicated to the Virgin of the Fountain, is a great example of the Churrigueresque style. Even though the church is a national monument, it has faced serious problems with damage and decay since the mid-1900s.
History of the Church
In 1573, land was given to the Conceptionist nuns to build a convent. They received official permission from Pope Gregory XIII in 1578. This was the second convent for this group of nuns in New Spain, which was the name for Mexico when it was ruled by Spain.
The name "Regina Coeli" comes from a prayer to the Virgin Mary. This prayer is said during Easter and talks about Mary's part in the Resurrection of Jesus. The church part of the building was finished in 1655. It was fixed up several times and then officially opened again in 1731. Nuns from this convent also helped start other Conceptionist convents in places like Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende.
The convent worked until 1863. At that time, new laws called the Reform Laws closed it down. The convent building became government property, and the church became a regular parish church. The government sold the convent building in 1863. However, this sale was later cancelled.
In 1908, the government put a public clock in the building. By 1929, parts of the old convent were even used to keep chickens and pigs! It was later used as a military barracks. In 1931, it was officially named an "Artistic Monument." In 1982, the whole complex was declared a Historical Monument of the Nation.
Since the mid-1900s, the church building has been slowly falling apart. In 1945, a water leak damaged a painting of Saint Christopher. This led to repairs in 1966, including adding waterproof materials. But the building still gets damaged, mostly from water in the roof and walls. This causes the stone to crumble and puts the paintings on the walls at risk. Recently, some arches near the choir area had to be completely replaced because they were so badly damaged. In 2006, the outside walls facing Regina Street were cleaned and painted. More work is needed, but there isn't enough money to fix all the water damage.
The church has also had paintings stolen, especially during the Reform War and the Cristero War. Many paintings on the altars today are actually copies. Other art, money, and items have been stolen more recently.
A theater group called "Fenix Novohispano" performed a play about the church and its legends. It was called "Historias de vivos, muertos y aparecidos" (Stories of the living, dead, and appearances). The play had four parts based on different legends. One story was about a nun who could heal people with her special bread. Another was about a man who stole a golden head of Christ and was found dead in the church. The last story was about a friar who was tempted by a beautiful woman.
Regina Street, where the church is located, was made into a pedestrian-only street by the city. All the pipes and wires for services like electricity and water were put underground. New stone and brick paving, benches, lights, and trees were added. This work has also helped many private buildings on the street get fixed up.
What the Church Looks Like
The church and convent complex is built with stone, including a reddish volcanic stone called tezontle. The church part is still open for worship and visitors. However, most of the old convent area is closed to the public. A large part of the building is now used as the Concepción Beistegui Hospital, which is a facility for older people.
The complex also has a hall for rent, a conference room, and a garden with a tiled fountain from 1930. It has 26 gold wall lights and many valuable paintings and sculptures. One of the courtyards is called the Patio de la Estampa. It used to be covered, but now only one arch and parts of others remain. In 2008, the Sor Juana Salon was opened. It is named after a famous Mexican nun from the 1600s. The plaza in front of the church has green areas, benches, and a walking path.
The front of the church is simple and has been painted recently. It has a tall bell tower and an eight-sided dome. Tiles at the bottom of the bell tower, placed in 1773, mark 200 years since the convent was founded. The outside of the dome is divided into clear sections. These sections are decorated with tiles and pointed ornaments.
Inside, the main part of the church, called the nave, runs from east to west. It has a rounded ceiling called a barrel vault. The area under the dome has paintings of important Church founders like Augustine, Jerome, Gregory, and Ambrose.
At the west end of the nave is the main altar. This altar is made of wood and covered in gold, in the rich Churrigueresque style. It has figures of Anthony of Padua and the Four Evangelists. Smaller areas inside the altar hold images of saints Dominic and Francis of Assisi. In the center, there is a painting showing the birth of the Virgin Mary. Above this, there is a sculpture of Saint Joseph. The main altar is framed by tall, inverted pyramid-shaped pillars called estipites. One special area is gilded and decorated with mirrors, tortoise shell, and mother-of-pearl. It holds a sculpture of the Immaculate Conception from the 1800s. High above the altar, there is a picture of God the Father holding the world.
Besides the main altar, several original side altars are still there. Two side altars are next to each other. They are dedicated to the Calvary and the Sacred Heart. They are decorated with eight twisted columns called Salomonic columns, covered with leaves. These columns stand next to paintings and two special areas. One of these areas has a beautifully carved scene of Calvary with a colorful background.
The altarpiece of the Virgin of the Fountain was made by Felipe de Ureña. He was important in bringing the Baroque style to Mexican churches. He was asked to create this work in 1738, after the church had been expanded. This altarpiece is an example of early Baroque or Mexican Churrigueresque style. It uses estipite pillars and decorative areas. The painting of the Virgin is still and traditional. This is different from the detailed shapes and lively statues of archangels around her. The painting is thought to be by José de Ibarra.
Other parts of the main church area include decorated sections above the doors with black and gold designs. These are decorated with paintings, possibly by Nicolás Rodríguez Juárez. The church also has nine life-sized wooden sculptures. There are other altars in Neoclassical and Plateresque styles too.
Above the main door is a very large painting of Saint Christopher. Across from this, next to the altar dedicated to Francis of Assisi, is a doorway to the Medina Picazo Chapel. This chapel was designed by architect Miguel Custodio Durán and dates from 1733. This chapel started as the living space of a nun, the daughter of a doctor. After she died, her brother had her cell restored and turned into this chapel.
The entrance to this chapel is made of carved sandstone and used to be golden. It looks like an altar, with twisted columns that look like flames. The wavy shapes of the columns are repeated in the pointed ornaments above. These are topped with a design showing the sun and moon. The sun stands for Christ, and the moon stands for the Virgin Mary, who reflects her son's light. The middle part of the entrance has a sculpture of the Immaculate Conception. Above it, there is a dove representing the Holy Spirit and a cross. The doors have a wooden screen beautifully carved with Franciscan symbols and other decorations. Inside the chapel, there are oil paintings by Villalobos. These include "The Visitation of Mary," "The Marriage of Joseph and Mary," "The Adoration of the Shepherds," "The Annunciation," and "The Adoration of the Kings." To the right of the altar area, there is a realistic sculpture of the chapel's helper, Father Buenaventura de Medina Picazo.
The upper choir area has a rectangular iron railing. It also looks like an altarpiece. Acanthus leaves are used to form the open patterns. These patterns hold a series of round designs with the special letters for "Five Persons": Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Mary's parents, Joaquín and Ana. The railing is surrounded by molding that seems to weave through the patterns. This work was originally red and gold, but the red has turned gray over time. Inside the choir, there are eight paintings by an artist from Puebla named Francisco Antonio Vallejo.
See also
In Spanish: Templo de Regina Coeli para niños
- List of colonial churches in Mexico City
