Mother Church of Our Lady of the Conception (Vila do Bispo, Portugal)

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I . History

II . Description

III . Our Lady of the Conception

I . HISTORY

The now mother church of Vila do Bispo was built in the late 15^th century, in a region strongly marked by its closeness to the Promontorium Sacrum.

The church in the former Aldeia do Bispo was once dedicated to Saint Mary. The settlement is thought to have originated in 1374, at the latest, and was later donated, in 1515, to the Bishop of Silves, D. Fernando Coutinho (1465-1538).

In 1662, the so-called Aldeia do Bispo was assigned to Martim Afonso de Melo (c.1600-1671), the 2^nd Count of São Lourenço, by D. Afonso VI, and granted the title of town. Started during this period, the refurbishment of the church interior unfolded over several decades.

In the early 18^th century, during the reign of D. João V, the inside of the church was enriched with new elements including: the gilded wooden altarpieces; the tile lining of the nave; and the painting of the ceilings.

The 1755 earthquake affected primarily the main façade, which was redone some years later. A reference to the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, from which possibly originated the side chapel with the same invocation, can be found in the 1758 Parish Memories.

The 1960’s – period during which Father Manuel Clemente presided as parish priest - witnessed many restoration interventions to the building, as well as the beginning of the Sacred Art collection. 

II . DESCRIPTION

Situated among the houses of Vila do Bispo, the church faces West and is surrounded by spacious areas. The main façade is comprised of a framed portal with volutes at the base; a pediment bearing the M – Mary – symbol, and a rim which wasn’t added until after the earthquake. The bell tower, with its ornamental frieze, stands on the righthand side.

The interior of the church is of outstanding beauty, with the gilded wooden altars, the tile lining of the walls and the decorative painting of the ceiling brought together in a particularly harmonious way. The whole decoration is especially meaningful in this church dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception.

The nave is completely tiled in shades of blue (1715), with carpet-like tile compositions and tile panels decorated with albarradas [compositions with vases of flowers] - probably made in a Lisbon workshop – which highlight its interior lighting.

The splendid wooden coffered ceiling is painted with floral motifs involving both Marian symbols – such as the fountain, the star, the moon, and the mirror…- and Eucharistic symbols – including the pelican, the chalice, or the staircase… At the centre, a panel with a partially readable inscription, topped by a royal crown, alludes to the restoration sponsored by King D. João V between 1715 and 1726. It is surrounded by liturgical utensils such as the incense boat, the censer, the bell, and the cruets.

In the baptistry, at the entrance of the nave, on the left-hand side, highlight goes to the marble baptismal font.

The side chapels are inserted in round arches.

The chapel of Our Lord of the Stations of the Cross holds images of the Crucified Lord, Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John the Evangelist.

The richly ornamented Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, fully decorated with gilded woodcarvings, shows the coat of arms of the Order of Carmel over the arch; also decorated with gilded woodcarvings, the altarpiece, currently holding a tabernacle topped by a pelican, displays the images of Saint Peter and Saint Paul on side corbels.

On the right-hand side of the nave stands the Chapel of Saint Joseph, remarkably framed in gilded carved wood; the same gilded woodcarving can be found inside, and a conspicuous sculpture of Saint Joseph occupies the centre of the chapel.

In the altar of Saint Vincent, the image of the patron saint is exhibited in a gilded wooden oratory, alongside with the precious Reliquary of Saint Vincent and the famous Incense Boat which, according to the tradition, was used by Infante D. Henrique to welcome his nephew - King D. Afonso V - in 1458.

In the nave, further mention is due to the painted pulpit, the old wooden confessionals and the two magnificent chandeliers.

The triumphal arch, possibly dating as back as the Middle Ages and decorated with woodcarving in the early 18^th century, stands out for its richness and exuberance.

In the chancel, Our Lady of the Conception is the outstanding element, in the form of a valuable sculpture brought from the former convent of São Vicente do Cabo. In the splendid altarpiece, the tribune holds the throne topped by a crown supported by angels, and is painted on the inside with grotesque motifs and a crown of roses in the centre.

The side walls display two remarkable 16^th century paintings representing Saint Peter and Saint Paul, both of them probably from the former altarpiece, and attributed to the Algarve-born painter Álvaro Dias (c. 1571). Further highlight goes to a fine sculpture of Saint Anthony, placed against the South side wall.

The ceiling shows floral decoration around a central panel with the image of the Patron.

III . OUR LADY OF THE CONCEPTION

The long-lasting worship of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady dates back to the 8^th century, in the Eastern Church. This devotion is deeply rooted in Portugal, the land of Saint Mary, and countless churches, chapels and sites are dedicated to this Marian invocation. The feast of the 8^th December was celebrated as early as the reign of D. Afonso Henriques (1109-1185). Our Lady of the Conception was proclaimed the Patron of Portugal by D. João IV in 1646, following the restoration of the national independence.

In the Algarve, numerous have been the sites dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception since very remote times. Such invocation has been known in the southwestern Algarve since at least the 16^th century.

Iconography has evolved over time and is now most inspired by the passage in the Apocalypse 12, 1-3: And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. In one of the oldest representations, the Immaculate Virgin is depicted holding the Child in Her arms, with the crescent moon at her feet, stepping on a snake, under a crown sustained by two angels – the same as in the church of Our Lady of the Conception, in Vila do Bispo.

The liturgical feast is celebrated on the 8^th December.

References

• Boletim da Junta de Província do Algarve – Centenários 1140-1640-1940, Faro, Junta de Província, 1940.
• DGEMN, Igreja Matriz de Vila do Bispo, Boletim da Direcção-Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais, nº 107, Lisboa, 1962.
• LAMEIRA, Francisco, A talha no Algarve durante o Antigo regime, Universidade do Algarve, 1999.
• JESUS, Artur Vieira de, Vila do Bispo lugar de encontros, Câmara Municipal de Vila do Bispo, 2015.

See Also