Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, São Tomé

Our Lady of Grace Cathedral
Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Graça
Our Lady of Grace Cathedral
0.3384°N 6.7327°E / 0.3384; 6.7327
Location	São Tomé
Country	São Tomé and Príncipe
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe

The Our Lady of Grace Cathedral[1] (Portuguese: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Graça), also called Cathedral of São Tomé, is a church in the city of São Tomé, capital of the African and island country of São Tomé and Príncipe. It is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe. It stands at Praça do Povo (People's Square) in the city centre, close to the Presidential Palace.[2]

Interior view

Construction of the first church of Our Lady of Grace was started at the end of the fifteenth century under Captain Álvaro de Caminha. This church was situated near the present cathedral.[3] It became the seat of a diocese in 1534.[4][5] The building was reconstructed between 1576 and 1578, during the reign of King Sebastian of Portugal.[2] In 1784, it was in poor condition with the frontispiece broken.[6] In 1814 it was rebuilt at the initiative of the local population. The last modification was made in 1956, when the church was remodeled in an eclectic revival style, with a neo-romanesque main façade.[7]

See also

• Roman Catholicism in São Tomé and Príncipe
• List of buildings and structures in São Tomé and Príncipe

References

1. Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Graça, São Tomé, GCatholic.org
2. Cathedral São Tomé, Heritage of Portuguese Influence
3. Madeira da Silva, Teresa (October 2012). "A cidade de São Tomé no Quadro das Cidades Insulares Atlânticas de Origem Portuguesa". Actas do Colóquio Internacional São Tomé e Príncipe Numa Perspectiva Interdisciplinar, Diacrónica e Sincrónica. ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon: 53. hdl:10071/3921.
4. Mata, Inocência (1993-01-01). Emergência e existência de uma literatura: o caso santomense (in Portuguese). Edições ALAC.
5. Pinto, Manuel do Rosário; Caldeira, Arlindo Manuel (2006-01-01). Relação do descobrimento da Ilha de São Tomé (in Portuguese). Centro de História de Além-Mar. ISBN 9789729867293.
6. Catedral de São Tomé, Direção-Geral do Património Cultural
7. Fernandes, José Manuel (October 2012). "As cidades de São Tomé e de Santo António, até aos séculos XIX e XX - arquitectura e urbanismo". Actas do Colóquio Internacional São Tomé e Príncipe Numa Perspectiva Interdisciplinar, Diacrónica e Sincrónica. ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon: 76. hdl:10071/3906.