St. Mary's Church, Falkland Islands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church, 2016
Country	Falkland Islands
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Church
Dedication	Mary, mother of Jesus
Consecrated	1899
Specifications
Materials	Timber
Administration
Parish	Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands

St. Mary's Church is a special Catholic building located at 12 Ross Road in Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. It is the only Catholic church on the islands.

This church is very important because it serves as the main church, also called a parish, for the Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands. This is a special area of the Catholic Church that reports directly to the Holy See, which is the central government of the Catholic Church in Rome.

The church is made of wood and was officially opened for worship in 1899. Inside, on the West wall, you can see beautiful oil paintings. These murals were created by James Peck, a British artist who was born right there in the Falkland Islands.

A Moment in History: The 1966 Incident

In September 1966, something unusual happened at St. Mary's Church. Some people who had taken over an airplane, Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 648, were given a safe place to stay inside the church.

Father Rodolfo Roel, who was the priest at the time and originally from the Netherlands, allowed them to stay. They waited there until they could be sent back to Argentina to face a trial.

The Falklands War and the Church

During the Falklands War in 1982, the church played another important role. The local priest, Michael McPartland, talked with the Argentine soldiers who were in charge.

He successfully arranged for the church to continue holding Mass, which is a Catholic worship service, in English. This meant that the local people could still attend their services during a difficult time.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Islas Malvinas) para niños

• Catholic Church in the Falkland Islands