The Old Church of Mar was, for many centuries, the Mother Church of the parish. Nevertheless, only the documentary memory now remains from the primitive temple, probably a small chapel. The church that exists today dates to the 16th century, and it was expanded after two hundred years and due to the growth of the parish population. With the inauguration of the current parish church of St. Bartholomew, the Old Church was being abandoned ... by the mid-20th century it was in a terrible state of neglect and ruin. Fallen roofs,dense thicket of bushes inside and outside, arches and walls were knocked down ... a misery. However, the people of the parish were not confirm with this situation and they got to work. In four years the church has rediscovered a decent appearance.It was reopened for worship on 23 August 1954, and the parish priest promised that Mass would be performed at this church once a month.Nevertheless the deterioration return and, by end of the century,a new and profound intervention was necessary.However the marks of an ancient past remain and still resist all these interventions ... Look for the marks of the stonemason in the stones of the church's walls, some are truly interesting.
Location: Esposende
