Famed for its dedication to workers, Parroquia de San Lorenzo also aids people in finding jobs. This church stands as a testament to faith and art. The building we see today dates back to the 17th century. It was remodeled at the end of the 18th century. The church is part of a convent. It was founded in 1598. It belonged to the Order of San Jerónimo.
An older church was damaged by floods. It had to be torn down. Juan Gómez de Trasmonte built this newer structure. This happened between 1643 and 1650. It was remodeled at least twice after that.
The bell tower’s collapse is debated. Some say it fell after an earthquake in 1845. Others claim lightning struck it in 1871. Several sources conflict on this.
The Reform Laws changed things in 1865. The Jerónimas nuns had to leave the convent. In 1867, President Benito Juárez founded a school here. It was the National School of Arts and Crafts for Men. By the 1930s, the cloister was remodeled for an engineering school. Damage from the 1985 earthquake led to the convent building’s demolition.
Fire struck the church in 1940. A Basque priest began a famous reconstruction in 1954. He was exiled. Ricardo de Robina and Jaime Ortiz Monasterio were the architects. Sculptor Mathias Goeritz also participated. Their work is celebrated. It uniquely blends contemporary art and colonial architecture.
“The Hand of God” is a relief in the apse. Goeritz created it. The stained glass windows are striking. They evoke minimalism and post-war abstraction. The Carretones Glass Factory made them. It was in the Merced neighborhood.
The Parroquia de San Lorenzo has one nave. It differs from most convent churches. It only has one entrance facade. The facade mixes Baroque style with Neo-Classical elements. Augustine of Hippo’s sculpture stands above the main door. The annunciation relief is high quality. It is on the upper choir parapet. The lower choir’s vault is in an enormous shell pattern. The main altar dates to the 18th century. The carved wood pulpit does too.
San Lorenzo was a third-century Deacon of Rome. He was martyred during Christian persecutions. Many Mexican churches were dedicated to him. San Lorenzo Ruiz is also associated. He was beatified in 1981 by Pope John Paul II. Ruiz was executed in Japan. This happened during a 17th-century persecution.
So take a moment to appreciate the Parroquia de San Lorenzo. It is a blend of history, art and faith.