Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apostol de Toa Baja

Coordinates: 18°26′33″N 66°15′18″W / 18.4425153°N 66.2550064°W / 18.4425153; -66.2550064
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Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apostol de Toa Baja
The church in 1975
Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apostol de Toa Baja is located in Puerto Rico
Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apostol de Toa Baja
Location150 Cristo and 47 Las Flores Streets Toa Baja Pueblo in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°26′33″N 66°15′18″W / 18.4425153°N 66.2550064°W / 18.4425153; -66.2550064
Built1750-1799
ArchitectUnknown
NRHP reference No.75002135
Added to NRHPApril 17, 1975

The Saints Peter and Matthew the Apostles Parish Church of Toa Baja (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de los Apóstoles San Pedro y San Matías), better known as the St. Peter the Apostle Parish Church of Toa Baja (Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apóstol de Toa Baja), is a historic 16h-century Roman Catholic parish church located in the main town square (plaza pública) of Toa Baja Pueblo, the administrative and historic center of the municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.[1]

The church is notable for having its façade facing the La Plata River rather than the town square as it is usual in Puerto Rican towns (pueblos). Local tradition states that this was due to historical floods and consequent modifications made to the church.[2][3] A small chapel that dated to before the official founding of Toa Baja used to occupy the site of the current church.[4] The current façade, similar to that of the parish church of Vega Alta, dates to the 18th century. The church is of artistic notability for its chiseled gold and silver rococo ornamentations, described by Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra in 1775 as one of the best adorned in the island.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Davila, Arturo V. (March 27, 1975). "Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apostol de Toa Baja". npgallery.nps.gov.
  2. ^ a b UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (April 17, 1975). "NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM". npgallery.nps.gov.
  3. ^ Mergal, Orlando (2023-08-18). "There Was Something Off About Toa Baja". Puerto Rico By GPS. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  4. ^ "Historia – Municipio Autónomo de Toa Baja" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-25.