Chapel of San Jacinto
Encyclopedia
The Chapel of San Jacinto is a Roman Catholic chapel
located in the town of Salcajá
, Guatemala
. It is said to have been founded by the Franciscan
s in 1524, the same year the Maya K'iche' kingdom
was conquered by the Spanish conquistadores, and is claimed to be the first church built in Central America
. Although there is no historical evidence to support that claim, the chapel can be considered a fine example of early Spanish colonial architecture.
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
located in the town of Salcajá
Salcajá
Salcajá is a municipality in Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala.Salcajá is best known for the Church of San Jacinto, founded in 1524, which was the first church built in Central America. It is also known as La Conquistadora presumably because of the time period and its religious influence on...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It is said to have been founded by the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s in 1524, the same year the Maya K'iche' kingdom
K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj
The K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj was a state in the highlands of modern day Guatemala which was founded by the K'iche' Maya in the thirteenth century, and which expanded through the fifteenth century until it was conquered by Spanish and Nahua forces led by Pedro de Alvarado in 1524.The K'iche'...
was conquered by the Spanish conquistadores, and is claimed to be the first church built in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. Although there is no historical evidence to support that claim, the chapel can be considered a fine example of early Spanish colonial architecture.