Invención de la Santa Cruz Parish
Church located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Invención de la Santa Cruz (Spanish for Invention of the Holy Cross) is a historic Catholic parish church located in Bayamón Pueblo, the historic and administrative downtown area of Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The church is located on the Plaza de Hostos, the main town square of Bayamón, at 12 Degetau Street,[1] in front of the former city hall and current Francisco Oller Museum building.[2]
| Invención de la Santa Cruz Church | |
|---|---|
Parroquia de la Invención de la Santa Cruz | |
View of the church in 2012 | |
  Invención de la Santa Cruz Church Location in Puerto Rico | |
| 18°23′41″N 66°09′15″W | |
| Location | Bayamón Pueblo |
| Address | 12 Degetau Street, Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish |
| Founded | 1750 |
| Dedication | Exaltation of the Holy Cross |
| Dedicated | 1772 |
| Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones |
| Designated | February 3, 2000 |
| Architect | Jose Martinez de Matos |
| Groundbreaking | 1750 |
| Completed | 1799 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | San Juan de Puerto Rico |
Church Santa Cruz of Bayamón | |
| Built | 1750-1799 |
| MPS | Historic Churches of Puerto Rico MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003162 |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1984 |
History
The establishment of the current church dates to 1750 when construction of the structure began with plans to move the main Catholic parish of the area from its former location next to Hacienda Santa Cruz to the current location, then known as Alto del Embarcadero, a small hill located close to the Bayamón River. Construction of the church was gradual and lasted for the remaining of the century with important updates being made in 1772 (the current church structure) and 1782. The consecration of the church in 1772, dedicated to the feast of the Holy Cross, also coincides with the official founding of the municipality of Bayamón on May 22, 1772.[3]
The church sustained some damage during the 1867 Virgin Islands earthquake.[4]
The church was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places on August 8, 1984,[5] and consequently listed on September 18, 1984.[6] It was one of 31 Puerto Rican churches reviewed for listing on the National Register in 1984 as part of the Historic Churches of Puerto Rico Inventory multiple property submission (MPS).[7] It was also added to the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2000.[8]
