Charming church facade at Chimbel dating to 18th century seeks attention

Panaji: An 18th-century church facade and ruins in Chimbel, Goa, face deterioration from monsoon elements due to decades of neglect. The historic site, which housed Asia’s first indigenous Carmelite congregation and later served as a home for destitute women and children, spans 3.8 hectares and was recently vacated after functioning as an old age home under Provedoria.

The site features a dilapidated building along the road in Chimbel, with ruins of a chapel and convent beyond its heritage wall. The south-facing hill slope was once a centre of religious activities, established by the Congregation of Tertiary Carmelites in the 18th century.

The Portuguese govt transferred the property to Santa Casa de Misericordia in 1835, while it was handed over to Provedoria in 1940. The site also hosted Goa’s first mental health institution before it was moved to Altinho.

A section of the roughly 3m-high heritage wall recently collapsed during rainfall.

“The church facade is also facing a major threat due to vagaries of nature, dense vegetation and growth of trees on the structure,” said Mount Carmel Conservation Association of Chimbel (MCCAC) vice-president Maria Nifa Fernandes.

“The roots of trees are dislodging the stones and archaeological restoration experts need to be engaged to clear the growth without damaging the monument,” Fernandes added.

The local panchayat has instructed Provedoria to remove trees marked dangerous by the forest department. Local activist Ana Gracias noted that soil around the church facade has become waterlogged while some trees threaten the structure.

“The church’s intricate facade reflects this evolution—it is a complex collage of various architectural elements. Some features are influenced by nearby churches in Pomburpa, Santana and Santa Cruz, while others, such as its Solomonic columns and pilasters, are unique to this church,” write Sidh Mendhirata and Fernando Velho in a book.

The site, now protected with heritage status by town and country planning department’s conservation committee, attracts tourists and could potentially be integrated into Old Goa’s heritage circuit.

A biodiversity survey by former forest official Prakash Salelkar revealed rich flora at the site. “The surveyed plot has 275 individuals of 23 species of shrubs with predominant species, such as Grewia nervosa, Carissa carandas and other species,” the report states.

The historical significance of the church extends beyond its architecture. According to records, it was the first religious order to include native Goan priests from non-Brahmin backgrounds.

MCCAC has submitted a petition to archives and archaeology minister Subhash Phal Dessai requesting conservation of the former Tertiary Carmelites site. Their memorandum emphasizes the importance of preserving the site’s current configuration, including heritage trees and vegetation.

The church represents late modern Goan church architecture that emerged in the late 16th century. Architectural historian Paulo Varela Gomes noted that Goan artisans adapted European architectural and ornamental styles to create their own distinct aesthetic.