Church of Quinchao

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Church of Quinchao

Location
The Church of Quinchao is in the village of Quinchao on Quinchao Island, in the Chiloé Archipelago of Chile’s Los Lagos Region. It sits on a front esplanade that runs along the sea, about one block from the coast. The church is part of the 16 Churches of Chiloé, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, and it's one of the main stops on a local pilgrimage route. The patron saint is Our Lady of Grace, celebrated on December 8 each year.

Construction and features
Construction of the church was completed in 1880, built with local woods including cypress, canelo, and avellano. It is the largest church in Chiloé, measuring about 52.8 meters long and 18.4 meters wide, with a tower 18.3 meters high. The church is one of the few original Jesuit-built churches remaining in the area (along with Santa María de Loreto, Achao).

History
The site of the church dates back to at least 1605 and is mentioned in records before 1767. It has undergone several changes and restorations over the years, including exterior corridor removals in 1906 and rear-area changes in the 1960s. The church was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2000 and has also been recognized as a National Monument of Chile since 1971.

Reconstruction
By 2006 the church had deteriorated so badly that it was closed to prevent collapse. It was the first of Chiloé’s churches to be fully restored. The reconstruction included a concrete foundation, new beams of coigüe wood, and a reinforced wooden floor. Although more than 80% of the structurally significant wood was replaced, about 95% of the existing wood was reused, and 90,000 larch shingles were installed. The restoration shifted toward more larch and mañío woods. The major restoration was carried out between 1995 and 1997, with a significant further phase around 2007–2010, including the careful reconstruction of the tower (which was removed and rebuilt). In 2012, the church and the Friends of the Churches of Chiloé were awarded a conservation prize by Chile’s National Monuments Council.

See also
- Churches of Chiloé
- Jesuit sites

Church of Quinchao stands today as a restored, active part of Chiloé’s religious and cultural heritage, reflecting the region’s unique wooden church architecture and Jesuit influence.