Restoration of 18th century church to cost $1.8 million

The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) announced on Monday (Jan 19) the allotment of $1.8 million to the St. Anthony Parish, in the city of Tiradentes, Minas Gerais. The nonrefundable resources will be used in the architectural and artistic renovation of the parish, as well as the structural restoration of the Santíssima Trindade Sanctuary and of the Cinco Passos da Paixão de Cristo Chapels, which were given listed status in 1938 by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan).

Father Ademir Sebastião Longatti, from the St. Anthony of Tiradentes Parish, said, “This work of art is crying out for help; it's living history, and we cannot afford to lose it.” He went on to declare that the population heard the news of the funds “with great joy.”

According to information from BNDES's press office, the Igreja da Santíssima Trindade was acknowledged as a sanctuary in the 1960's and inaugurated in 1776 as a chapel, in the higher part of the city. Later on, a large number of elements were added to its framework. The structural renovation of the building, which features the only specimen of an image of God in papal garb, is to take place in two years' time.

The chapels were built c. 1745 and were also gradually dilapidated, according to the appraisal made by BNDES experts. Father Longatti believes the tender for the restoration will be released in February. “We're doing some research in Belo Horizonte before we begin.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira