Strong earthquake in Peru damaged a 16th-century temple
In Peru, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake on July 18 seriously damaged the Church of Saint James the Apostle (Iglesia del Apóstol Santiago) in the town of Chongos Bajo. This is one of the oldest Christian temples in the Peruvian Andes, built in the 16th century by order of the Spanish Viceroy Francisco de Toledo. The building has the status of a Peruvian cultural heritage site, writes The Art Newspaper.
Photo: Ministry of Culture of Peru
As a result of the natural disaster, most of the roof and part of the main facade collapsed. The surviving structures have been deemed unsafe for use. The temple was built of adobe — a building material made of clay, straw, and sand — and covered with a tiled roof.
The 30-meter bell tower also suffered damage and is now in danger of collapsing. It was built with brick and cement instead of the original adobe tower, which was destroyed during one of the previous earthquakes.
Wooden and stone altars with ancient religious images were also damaged. To replace the roof alone will cost over 400 thousand dollars.
The restoration of the monument may be complicated by uncertainty in the cultural policy of the new administration of President Keiko Fujimori, which begins work on July 28. Meanwhile, employees of the Ministry of Culture of Peru, along with volunteers and students, are clearing the rubble and transporting religious relics to safe places.
The church can accommodate about 300 people and has great spiritual, cultural, and tourist significance. It attracts pilgrims from various regions of the country and plays an important role in the life of the local community.
Parish priest Ricardo Acharrán has already launched a fundraising campaign through the Archdiocese of Huancayo to find funds for the restoration of the historic temple.