Whispers of ancient games echo around Iglesia La Cañada. This church stands as a testament to faith and history.
Iglesia La Cañada isn’t just a church. It’s a cornerstone of Querétaro’s origins. The area now known as La Cañada was once called Ndamaxei. This is an Otomí term that means “place where the ball is played”. It could also mean “the biggest ball game.”
La Cañada earned its name from its unique geography. Its terrain reminded early inhabitants of a ball court. It’s believed that Querétaro itself began here. This makes Iglesia La Cañada a place of immense historical importance.
Back in 1529 Hernán Pérez de Bocanegra arrived with plans to unite with the locals. He intended to conquer the region. Indigenous people from Acámbaro noticed the area’s rocky features. They named it “Querenda” or “Queréndaro”. This is a Purépecha phrase meaning “place of rocks”. Over time this evolved into Querétaro. By 1615 the area was simply known as La Cañada.
Iglesia La Cañada’s story intertwines with Conín. Conín means “noise” in the Otomí language. He traded with the Chichimecas exchanging salt and grains for animal hides. Hernán Pérez de Bocanegra persuaded Conín to convert to Christianity. He also encouraged him to peacefully submit to Spanish rule.
Later Hernán Pérez de Bocanegra brought a Franciscan friar. The friar would baptize Conín and other converted indigenous people. In 1531 Fray Francisco Rangel held a mass in La Cañada. This marked the first mass in Querétaro. A stone cross marks the spot with symbols of the Passion. It’s located in the garden north of the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Baptisms occurred on the Hill of the Baptistery also called the Hill of the Crosses.
Despite the conquest evangelization continued in La Cañada. Numerous chapels were built in different neighborhoods. These chapels served as places of prayer and evangelization.
Iglesia Chiquita is considered the first Catholic temple in the region. Construction began in 1529. This happened after Conín’s initial interactions with Hernán Pérez de Bocanegra. Fray Alonso de Rangel and Juan Sánchez de Alanís were brought in. They were meant to indoctrinate the native population. Religious activities took place in Capillas Pozas while Iglesia Chiquita was under construction. Initially the church was dedicated to Santiago. Later it was dedicated to San Pedro. The town became known as San Pedro de la Cañada.
In 1714 a proposal was sent to the king to create five parish aids. One was to be located in San Pedro de la Cañada. By the mid-18th century the current Parish of San Pedro was built. Locals and missionaries worked together. The old parish became known as “Iglesia Chiquita” or small church. The new one was called “Templo Grande” or large temple.
Construction started in 1741 in the neoclassical style. It was initiated by Father José Núñez de Ulloa. Archbishop Manuel Rubio y Salinas encouraged the work’s continuation.
In 1768 Franciscan religious leaders handed over the administration. They gave it to secular clerics. In 1769 the Parish of San Pedro was erected.
The inhabitants of La Cañada dedicated themselves to building the current parish temple for a century and a half. Father Guadalupe Jaime advanced the work significantly. Architect Francisco Amaya Avendaño helped complete the temple’s vaults in 1871-72. Father Rosalío García continued the work. The church was consecrated in 1897 by the Bishop of Querétaro Don Rafael Sabas Camacho. In 1900 the parish was fully transferred to the new temple. The project lasted approximately 156 years.
La Cañada became a municipality in 1941. It was renamed El Marqués in 1949. This honored Don Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana. He was known as the Marquis of the Villa del Villar del Águila. He was considered a benefactor of Querétaro. This was due to his construction of the aqueduct in 1735.
In 1963 the parish was divided into two vicariates. In 1968 a new parish vicariate was formed in Amazcala. In 2012 the Parish of Jesús María y José was erected.
Iglesia La Cañada stands as a reminder. It reminds us of the intertwining of indigenous heritage and Spanish colonization. It embodies the enduring spirit of Querétaro. Its stones whisper tales of ball games. They whisper of conversions and of unwavering faith.