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The Anglican Church of All Saints

Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife North

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Notices

***** Click here to see our August Newsletter, just published! *****




A date for your diary – Saturday, 3rd September at 10am

(please note the new opening time!)

Midweek Letter

16th August

I have been asked by tourists in the past, why all the shops are closed on 15th. August and I have to tell them that it is a Bank holiday. This led me to investigate the background to this ‘Fiesta’ which as you know the Spanish people and particularly the Canary Islanders love!

Last Monday 15th. August, the Feast of the Assumption, is celebrated each year to commemorate The Virgin of Candelaria popularly known, on the Island of Tenerife as La Morenita, The centre of worship is the town of Candelaria. She is depicted as a Black Madonna.   The “Royal Basilica Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Candelaria” is considered the main church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Canary Islands, and she is the patron saint of the Islands.

According to a Tenerife legend, a statue of the Virgin Mary, bearing a child in one hand and a green candle in the other (hence “Candelaria”), was discovered on the beach at Chimisay by Guanche goatherds in 1392. One of the shepherds tried to throw a stone at the statue, but his arm became paralysed; the other tried to stab the statue with a knife but ended up stabbing himself.

Later, Antón, a Guanche who had been enslaved and converted to Christianity by the Castilians, returned to Tenerife and recognized the statue as that of the Virgin Mary. He told of his conversion and the statue was then venerated by the Guanches, who moved it to the cave of Achbinico (also known as San Blas), however, the statue was stolen and taken away to Lanzarote. It was later returned to Tenerife after various events, including an outbreak of the plague, occurred on Lanzarote. At first, the indigenous people identified the statue with their goddess Chaxiraxi (the mother of the gods), but later the Christian conquerors imposed the idea that the statue was that of the Virgin Mary.

After the appearance of the Virgin, the festival became a Marian celebration in the year 1497, when the conqueror Alonso Fernández de Lugo, celebrated the first Candlemas festival dedicated especially to the Virgin Mary, coinciding with the Feast of Purification, on February 2nd. Before the conquest of Tenerife, the Guanche aborigines celebrated with the image of the Virgin during the Beñesmen (Harvest) festival in the month of August. Currently, the feast of the Virgin of Candelaria in the Canary Islands is celebrated on February 2nd. also on August 15th. the day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the Christian calendar.

The original statue was a medieval gothic sculpture with dark colour and clothing similar to that of the Virgin of Lluch (patron saint of Mallorca) and the Virgin of Montserrat (patron saint of Catalonia).

For the festival Mass the statue of the Virgin is dressed in rich robes of different colours and jewels.  She was declared patroness of the Canary Islands in 1559. The Virgin of Candelaria is widely petitioned to pray for the protection against epidemics, plagues, droughts and volcanic eruptions.

Between October 1964 and January 1965, the Diocese of Tenerife conducted a pilgrimage, the statue of the Virgin was walked across the towns, cities and municipalities of the island of Tenerife for the first time in history.

Every year on February 2nd. and August 15th. there is a big celebration is celebrated in honour of the Virgin. These days thousands of pilgrims and tourists come to Candelaria from all parts of the world. The feast day is marked by a solemn procession and a religious ceremony, although its most famous component is a re-enactment of the discovery of the statue, with locals dressing up as Guanche natives.

The Prayer of The Virgin Mary – The Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed, and his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.

He hath showed strength with his arm. He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things.
And the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers  Abraham, and his seed forever.
Amen.

Peter Lockyer
Reader

 

Donate to All Saints

If you are interesting in making a gift to All Saints in a Will, or In Memoriam, please click here. Dear Friends, Thank you for visiting our website, we welcome you to our beautiful Church of All Saints Tenerife, to our Website and to online … [Read More. . .] about Donate to All Saints

Donation to the Red Cross

Below are 2 photos showing items bought with the collection monies received from Carol service. Amount of money collected was €232 to which was added €32 from the Cruz Roja collecting tin. The toys will be distributed to children from poor … [Read More. . .] about Donation to the Red Cross

general information about the church

Rededication

Our church… 130 years in the making

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH of All Saints in Parque Taoro, Puerto de la Cruz, is over 130 years old, making it the oldest Anglican church in Spain. Many visitors to Tenerife are surprised to find an English-style church here. This small enclave of the Church of … Read full article → about Our church… 130 years in the making

The English Cemetery

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH has responsibility for the upkeep of a walled cemetery in the town of Puerto de la Cruz.  It is situated in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz, next to the headquarters of the National Police, in an area surrounded by hotels. Over many years, … Read full article → about The English Cemetery

Memorial to Flight 1008

THE CHURCH GARDENS are home to a very special memorial, a Rose Garden dedicated to the memory of the 146 passengers and crew who lost their lives when Dan Air charter flight 1008 inbound from Manchester to the Tenerife North airport of Los Rodeos crashed in … Read full article → about Memorial to Flight 1008

Garden of Remembrance

IN THE CHURCH grounds, to the rear and to the right of the church building itself, is a memorial garden, where the ashes of deceased members of the church congregation can be interred. This shaded and sheltered area provides a place of quiet contemplation … Read full article → about Garden of Remembrance

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All Saints’ Church is part of the Anglican Communion
Diocese in Europe.

Latest Newsletter

August 2022 Newsletter

All Saints’ Social Media Links

Follow @allSts_tenerife

Services & Events Schedule

SUNDAY:
11:00am – Sung Eucharist

WEDNESDAY:
10:00am – Holy Communion
11:15am – Bible Study/Prayer Group (alternate weeks)

For the latest information about Car Boot Sales (updated 14th June 2022), please click here.

Contact Us – Who’s who

Chaplain:  Vacancy
tel: +34 605 48 67 92
email: allsaintsnorthtenerife@gmail.com
Assistant Priest:
The Revd Rachel Ganney
tel: +34 672 83 47 11 (WhatsApp)
email: rachel@ganney.net
Reader:
Peter Lockyer
tel: +34 922 37 03 28
email: allsaints@lynx3.eu
Congregational worship leader:
Judith Rigby
tel: +34 711042849
email: rigbyjudith59@gmail.com
Church Wardens:
Wendy Sanderson
tel: +34 922 32 09 78
Dawn Rutherford
email: dawnr30@hotmail.co.uk
Safeguarding officer:
Judith Rigby
tel: +34 711 04 28 49
email: safeguardingpuertotenerife@gmail.com
Hon Treasurer:
Cheryl Douglas
email: cheryl6921@hotmail.com
Chaplaincy Council Secretary:
Kath Delgado Cabrera
tel: +34 615 22 23 11
email: kath.delgadocabrera@gmail.com
Organist:
Rayco Gonzales
tel: +34 699 64 94 54
email: raycobrito@hotmail.com

LINKS TO KINDRED SITES

St Francis’ Anglican Church,
Tenerife South

La Palma Anglican Church

The English Library, Tenerife

The Friends of Tenerife

Ecumenical links

In der Anglikanischen Kirche in Puerto de la Cruz hält die Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Teneriffa Nord sonntags regelmäßig um 17 Uhr deutschsprachige Gottesdienste für ihre Mitglieder, Urlaubsgäste und interessierte Besucher.  Im Gemeindehaus hinter der Kirche befinden sich Gemeindebüro und Gemeinderäume. Hier und im dortigen Gartengelände wird bei vielerlei Gemeindeveranstaltungen ein geselliges Beisammensein gepflegt – Tel. 922 374 964.

OUR GERMAN Lutheran Brothers and Sisters also use the church for their Sunday Services and social events.  They have an office at the Parsonage and can be contacted by telephone on 922 374 964  Their office hours are displayed by the main door to the Parsonage.

We also have Ecumenical Links with the Scandinavian and Finnish churches in Puerto de la Cruz.

© 2022 All Saints Church, Tenerife • Built by Ken Sheldon on the Genesis Framework