Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.679856320247715, -28.204977479172307

Igreja Matriz de São Jorge is a Portuguese Catholic church located in Velas, on the Azorean island of São Jorge.

This church was built on the site where the primitive church of São Jorge existed, mentioned in the will of Infante D. Henrique, which dates back to 1460.

The license for its construction was requested by Father Baltazar Dias Teixeira, and granted by D. Afonso VI, by charter of April 23, 1659. For this purpose, in October 1660, the Municipality of Velas had to launch an annual feint starting the following year.

However, it was only in 1664 that the work on the building began, with bricklayer Francisco Rodrigues being its architect. Construction proceeded normally, the church being consecrated in February 1675 by the then Bishop of Angra do Heroísmo, D. Lourenço de Castro.

The current façade is no longer the same as it was then. Inside, made up of three naves, the altarpiece in the chancel is worth noting, which, according to Dr. João Teixeira Sousa, seems to have been what D. Sebastião offered the village, and to which the council of August 12, 1570 refers.

Also noteworthy is the side altar with a coffered vault, with the figure of the Blessed Sacrament engraved in basaltic stonework in the center and two stone pulpits with stairs. In the high choir, there is a pipe organ built in 1865 by Tomé Gregório de Lacerda, uncle of the famous composer Francisco de Lacerda.

When that bishop was on the island for the consecration of the temple, the artillery of Fortes das Velas spent 110 pounds of gunpowder in salvos on entry and exit. The construction of the tower took place in 1825, according to Avelar, placing three bells in it, which, in 1831, were taken down to make currency on Terceira Island. The large bell that was set in 1871 weighed 468,700 kilograms.

This mother church had several confraternities that would later be extinct. In 1902, the only fraternity existing there was that of Santíssimo Sacramento, erected in 1793, and which was in charge of the festivities linked to the procession of the Body of Christ and the ceremonies of endoses.

This church has contemporary stained glass windows, testifying to the legend of São Jorge slaying the dragon

Museum of Sacred Art

Associated with this church is the Museu de Arte Sacra de São Jorge, which has an interesting collection of sacred images, a painting on glass representing São Jorge, and valuable silver implements: censers, boats and monstrances.

It also has sculptures, ceramics, furniture, photographs and an important historical archive classified by the University of the Azores.