In early December, the Club organised a guided tour with Father Edgar to the Church of Saint Christopher in Mouraria. Built in the Mannerist and Baroque styles, this beautiful church was one of the few to survive the 1755 earthquake. The empty spaces on the walls between the altars are covered with 36 wonderful oil paintings on canvas, framed in gilded wood, from the 16th and 17th centuries, by the painter Bento Coelho da Silveira.
The high altar features a painting by Bento da Silveira, ‘The Last Supper’, which disappeared more than half a century ago and was found in 2014 behind the altar. It has now been restored along with the painter’s other works.
Side altars on the Epistle side:
Side altars on the Gospel side:
In the sacristy, there is a rare painting depicting Jesus’ farewell embrace with his earthly father as he is dying.
Twelve of these paintings were recently restored and unveiled on 9 April, with the help of Lisbon City Council and the Parish Council. Several paintings are still missing, representing an investment of around €200,000. The Club made a small donation.
There used to be a cemetery here, as can be seen in the so-called Miranda Chapel (above), a noble family whose tombs date back to the 15th century.
Our thanks go to Father Edgar, who has been the driving force behind the restoration of the Church of Saint Christopher and others, such as the Castle Church, despite many difficulties, ensuring that it is open to the public every day.
