The
tower undergoing conservation.This Church is now in ruins after a rather chequered history, though work is now ongoing to preserve what remains after recent archaeological excavations. The Church and Monastery were built in 1602 by the Augustinian friars who had arrived in Goa in 1587. It contained four altars and eight chapels and one of the main features still partially standing was a four storey belfry that is 46m high. It was once the largest church in Asia. There was also a convent. It is about a mile from the centre of Old Goa.
During a religious suppression in 1835 the Augustinian order abandoned the church, with most of the buildings falling into neglect over time. In 1843 the Government appropriated the church and sold off some remaining materials. The facade and half the tower collapsed in 1931, while more damage was sustained in 1938. The convent was used for a number of years by the charitable institution of the Misericordia (Heart of Mercy).
The
tower undergoing conservation.
Part of the nave
A carved panel, which appears to be from 1620, still in place
Original tiles still in place
Pieces of masonry collected by archaeologists, the convent building is on the left hand side of the picture.