Location Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Website [1] Completed 1783 Phone +1 787-851-1283 Year consecrated 1783 | Affiliation Roman Catholic Groundbreaking 1773 Opened 1783 Architectural style Neoclassical architecture Ecclesiastical or organizational status Church | |
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Address Calle Muñoz Rivera, Cabo Rojo, 00623, Puerto Rico District Roman Catholic Diocese of Mayagüez Similar Joyuda Lagoon, Coliseo Rebekah Colberg, Iglesia San Germán de Auxerre, Isla de Ratones, Faro Los Morrillos de Cabo | ||
Bold text Iglesia San Miguel Arcángel is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Construction on the building started in 1773 and was completed in 1783. The church's archives holds the birth records of Ramón Emeterio Betances, Salvador Brau, and the pirate Roberto Cofresi.
History
A description of the church from 1843 indicates that it had three naves separated by arches of wood, covered with tiles, with a ceiling vault. In 1927, Father Joe Smith collected funds to build a dome over the altar and repair the sacristy. Father Benito Sánchez gave the task of commissioning a number of additional works, among them, raising the height of the nave an additional ten feet. In 1936, Father Benito died and is the only Augustine priest buried in the church.
To free children from slavery, Ramón Emeterio Betances used to come to the door of the church on Sunday and, as the baby slaves were brought out from their christening ceremonies, he paid twenty five pesos (once baptized the cost for the slaves were doubled at 50 pesos).
In 2004, the church was designated a historic monument by the Puerto Rican government. The church is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mayagüez.