The imposing and beautiful Church of Mercy, belonging to the Holy House of Mercy of Angra do Heroísmo, was erected in the 18th century. Its construction began on October 21, 1728, under the supervision of the Bishop of the Diocese, D. Manuel Álvares da Costa. The architect responsible for this grand work was Manuel d’Andrade, who bestowed upon it a unique elegance that made it one of the most exquisite churches on the island. The construction process spanned almost two decades, culminating in the consecration of the temple on June 4, 1746, by the Vicar-General Manuel dos Santos Rolim, master-school of the Sé.
Following the earthquake of January 1, 1980, this church was one of the least affected in Angra, serving as a repository for sacred art removed from other churches to expedite their reconstruction. As a result, the restoration of the Church of Mercy was completed late, and it was reopened and blessed by D. António de Sousa Braga on May 24, 1998.
The Church of Mercy has been classified as a National Monument and is part of the classified ensemble of the Central Zone of the City of Angra do Heroísmo.
We offer the possibility of guided tours, daily, at no additional cost and in different languages.
The Organ
It is one of several organs built by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira [1756-1828], one of the most notable Portuguese organ builders, responsible for 14 of the organs existing in the Azores, already in the final phase of his career. This particular organ was only completed and sent to Terceira Island in 1829, after the death of the builder, by which time he had already built over a hundred organs.
