Gazing upon the Igreja de São Félix da Marinha, can you hear the echoes of centuries past? The very stones of this church whisper tales of a history that stretches back to the 12th century. Igreja de São Félix da Marinha wasn’t always known by this name. Early documents from the 12th and 13th centuries refer to it as the “church of Sanfins de Serzedo”. This was around the same time that King Afonso Henriques ordered the annexation of “Vila de Brito” to the Couto de Grijó in 1139. The name São Félix (Saint Felix in Latin) is a scholarly correction of the popular name Sanfins, short for São Fins. It connects the church to its patron saint, Saint Felix of Girona. He is commemorated on August 1st. Legend says he was a black Christian, possibly a priest or deacon, from North Africa. And “Marinha”? This part of the name likely refers to the salt pans or “marinha”, places where seawater was collected for salt production. In 1860, small salt deposits existed in Granja, near the beach, on land owned by Fructuoso Ayres. This might explain the full name, Igreja de São Félix da Marinha. The present church building isn’t the original. It’s actually the fourth church on this site. It was rebuilt on the ruins of its predecessor, a 16th-century church that collapsed in 1877. Some of the original materials were reused in the reconstruction. Between 1888 and 1900, two chapels were added within the church. New altarpieces, including the high altarpiece, were also installed. The ceiling and walls of the chancel were painted, and stained-glass windows were added. Damaged stonework inside was repaired. Look closely inside, and you’ll find real treasures. The altarpieces in the side chapels came from the now-demolished Convent of S. Bento de Avé Maria in Porto. There’s also a beautiful image of Our Lady of the Milk (or Our Lady of the Egg), sculpted from Ançã stone, possibly by a follower of João de Ruão. The Igreja de São Félix da Marinha stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of this community, a place where history and faith intertwine.
Igreja de São Félix da Marinha
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