What is a Church in 2024 is a question for the week. In the Soller Valley we have some significant churches, all with a history which places them at the heart of the community. It is to St Bartholomew Church the crowds will gather on Thursday May 9th. It will be standing room only as the first event of the Fira takes place. The historical characters and many other in traditional dress will gather for the speeches, presentations and opening of the five-day event for 2024. They will leave the event with ‘Visca Soller, visca Sa Fira i visca Es Firó’ ringing in their ears.
Visitors to Soller pour into this Church every day and pay the 3-euro entry fee to walk around and take pictures of the beautiful memorials. This is always a dilemma for the administration. If a person wants to use the church to see a priest, light a candle or sit quietly and pray, should they be charged admission for this? The conversation continues as to whether the Church is a museum or a place of worship. Some would say that they are both on designated days. Others say a church is a church first and foremost, and its use for tourism or as a venue for large events should not take precedence.
All eyes this week have been on the Sant Ramon de Penyafort Church in Puerto Soller. A history of this Church is published this week and answers many questions. Josep Antoni Morell González is the author, and his work has been widely welcomed. This coincided with a special dedication of a new chapel within in the Church. The Bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull, inaugurated the new altarpiece which presides over the chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Church of Sant Ramon de Penyafort.
This is a restored piece which was part of the chapel of Ses Escolà pies, dated the second half of the 19th century. The parish has invested 29,000 euros in the dismantling, transfer, restoration and installation of the historic piece. The Ses Escolapies Chapel is now used as a community venue and there were many requests for its altarpiece to be removed to a local church. This work is now complete and available for all to see.
The churches, as museums have thousands of visitors each year. The Church as a place of worship records great numbers on high days and holidays, particularly Easter and Christmas. Regular Sunday attendance is declining and a Saturday evening alternative for Mass is part of the weekly calendar. ‘Use it or lose it’ is the cry from many churches and there is much consternation.
The vibrant Church communities, meeting every week, on the industrial estates are bucking the trend. The African communities, with their use of large spaces to worship, their way, are growing. Music, noise, and loud alleluias are to be heard every Sunday. The ability to have services in native languages is welcomed The South American churches meeting here have music and charitable support to each other as a groundswell of their faith.
Church buildings are a fascinating look at the past and the history and culture of Mallorca. Every village has its own church buildings representing the faith and the financial contributions of the people of the past. So many churches here, which bring pilgrims and visitors for a glimpse into that world.
This is the time of year when many wander the towns and village of Mallorca. May is a great time for looking at museums and places of interest before it gets too hot. So many will wander into Soller Churches. They might find a visiting choir or even a wedding taking place. Impromptu happenings are known in the great ecclesiastical buildings of the Soller Valley. St Bartholomew’s has been fixing its organ for years. This year might be the one where it is ready to be used again. Rain ruined the last organ renovation but this time lessons have been learned. I am glad to say there is a good chance of beautiful music coming our way soon. Come and visit us soon and enjoy a visit to the Soller Valley churches.
