St. Mary's Church, Falkland Islands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church |
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St. Mary's Church, 2016
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| 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 Roman Catholic church found in Stanley, at 12 Ross Road. It is the only Catholic church in the entire Falkland Islands.
This church is very important because it is the main church and 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 Vatican City.
Contents
About St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church is built from wood. It was officially opened and blessed in the year 1899.
On its west wall, you can see beautiful oil paintings. These paintings were created by a British artist named James Peck, who was born in the Falkland Islands.
Important Moments in History
St. Mary's Church has been part of some interesting historical events.
The 1966 Hijacking Event
In September 1966, an airplane called Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 648 was hijacked. The people who took over the plane were given a safe place to stay inside St. Mary's Church. This happened with the help of Father Rodolfo Roel, who was from the Netherlands. The hijackers stayed there while they waited to be sent back to Argentina for their trial.
During the Falklands War
The church also played a role during the Falklands War in 1982. At that time, the local priest, Michael McPartland, talked with the Argentine soldiers. He successfully arranged for church services to continue being held in English, even during the conflict.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Islas Malvinas) para niños
- Catholic Church in the Falkland Islands
