Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos of Santurce

Historic church in Puerto Rico

United States historic place

Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos of Santurce

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Puerto Rico Historic Sites and Zones

The main entrance faces south

Location| Corner of San Jorge St. and Eduardo Conde Ave., Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Coordinates| 18°26′41″N 66°03′48″W﻿ / ﻿18.4447910°N 66.0633748°W﻿ / 18.4447910; -66.0633748﻿ (Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos of Santurce)
Area| less than one acre
Built| 1832 (1832)
Architect| Pedro Cobreros
NRHP reference No.| 85000044[1]
RNSZH No.| 2000-(RMSJ)-00-JP-SH
Significant dates
Added to NRHP| January 2, 1985
Designated RNSZH| February 3, 2000

Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos of Santurce (La Iglesia San Mateo de Cangrejos en Santurce) was built in 1832 as a chapel. In 1896, state architect Pedro Cobreros, who designed other churches in Puerto Rico, reconstructed its facade and enlarged the interior.[2]

The church differs from others in Puerto Rico because it is not related to a municipality's urban center. When first built it was the parish church of Villa de Cangrejos but, as the metropolitan area expanded, Santurce was absorbed into San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. The building is located at the highest elevation of Santurce, which allows for a view of Santurce,[3] now a barrio of San Juan.

Its large facade has two towers with three stories in between. This feature is known as westwork; (a west-facing entrance with towers, a vestibule, and a chapel). However, in the case of this church, its main entrance faces south. Curved steps lead up to the main entrance. The church, oriented from north to south, deviates from the traditional east to west orientation. On the west side of the church is a small parish house built in the same style as the church. The buildings are separated by a fence and a garden.

The interior main floor follows the basilica form with two lateral naves which are divided by means of an arcade of six bays resting on pillars. Each bay has a small rectangular window.

Originally, the nave had a flat wooden roof which has been replaced by one of exposed beams of concrete. The square apse is roofed with a dome that rests on pendentives.

The floors are made of marble and have been placed diagonally from the main axis. The church had a choir floor which no longer exists and had four portholes, now closed, to illuminate the altar.

The building has retained its original character. The two main changes since its original construction have been the expansion of the sacristy and the installation of an air conditioning system.[4]

## See also

[edit]

* Church San José of Aibonito
* Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. ^ "Parroquia San Mateo/ Santurce - Arquitectura Histórica de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). 5 December 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
3. ^ Juliá, E.R.; Skármeta, A. (2004). San Juan, ciudad soñada. Americas (Madison, Wis.) (in Spanish). Editorial Tal Cual. p. 75\. ISBN 978-0-299-20594-2. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
4. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos of Santurce". National Park Service. Retrieved September 18, 2020. With accompanying pictures

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National Register of Historic Places in San Juan, Puerto Rico

National Historic Landmarks|

* Casa Dra. Concha Meléndez Ramírez
* La Fortaleza

National Historic
Landmark District|

* Distrito Histórico del Viejo San Juan – Old San Juan Historic District
* Castillo San Cristóbal
* Castillo San Felipe del Morro
* Castillo San Felipe del Morro Lighthouse
* City Wall of San Juan
* Fortín San Juan de la Cruz

Districts|

* Acueducto de San Juan
* El Falansterio de Puerta de Tierra
* Instituto Loaiza Cordero para Niños Ciegos Historic District
* Línea Avanzada
* Puerta de Tierra Historic District – Distrito Histórico de Puerta de Tierra
* San Juan National Historic Site

Buildings|

* Administration Building
* Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico
* Biblioteca Carnegie
* El Capitolio de Puerto Rico
* Carcel de Puerta de Tierra
* Casa de España
* Casa Klumb
* Casa Vigil
* Central High School
* Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos of Santurce
* Church, School, Convent and Parish House of San Agustín
* Colegio de las Madres del Sagrado Corazón
* Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
* Rafael Cordero Graded School
* Edificio Aboy
* Edificio Comunidad de Orgullo Gay de Puerto Rico
* Edificio del Valle
* Edificio Patio Español
* Edificio Victory Garden
* Escuela Brambaugh
* Escuela Graduado José Celso Barbosa
* Figueroa Apartments
* Gran Logia Espiritual Número 1
* Hotel Normandie
* House at 659 Concordia Street
* House at 659 La Paz Street
* House at 663 La Paz Street
* House at 665 McKinley Street
* La Giralda
* Miami Building
* Nuestra Señora de Lourdes Chapel
* Polvorín de Miraflores
* Puerto Rico Ilustrado – Edificio El Mundo
* Puerto Rico Island Penitentiary
* Rafael M. Labra High School
* Residencia Aboy–Lompre
* Residencia de Señoritas Universidad de Puerto Rico; Río Piedras
* Residencia Luis Muñoz Marín
* Rum Pilot Plant
* School of Tropical Medicine
* Superintendent of Lighthouses' Dwelling
* Supreme Court Building
* Templo del Maestro
* U.S. Custom House
* U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
* University of Puerto Rico Tower and Quadrangle
* Villa Victoria

Sites|

* Fortín de San Gerónimo de Boquerón

Structures|

* Hiram Bithorn Municipal Stadium
* Faro del Morro
* Luis Muñoz Rivera Park
* Mural "La Familia"
* General Norzagaray Bridge
* Martín Peña Bridge
* Río Piedras Bridge
* San Antonio Railroad Bridge

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in San Juan, Puerto Rico and List of National Historic Landmarks in Puerto Rico
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