Iglesia San Miguel Arcángel is a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

located in

Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Cabo Rojo (), ) is a Cabo Rojo barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán – Cabo Rojo metropolitan area, San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropol ...

. Construction on the building started in 1773 and was completed in 1783. The church's archives holds the birth records of

Ramón Emeterio Betances Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán (April 8, 1827 – September 16, 1898) was a Puerto Rican independence leader, abolitionist and medical doctor. He led the nations independence movement and was the primary instigator of the ''Grito de Lares' ...

, Salvador Brau, and the pirate Roberto Cofresi.

History

A description of the church from 1843 indicates that it had three

naves The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type b ...

separated by arches of wood, covered with tiles, with a ceiling vault. In 1927, Father Joe Smith collected funds to build a dome over the altar and repair the sacristy. Father Benito Sánchez gave the task of commissioning a number of additional works, among them, raising the height of the nave an additional ten feet. In 1936, Father Benito died and is the only Augustine priest buried in the church. To free children from slavery,

used to come to the door of the church on Sunday and, as the baby slaves were brought out from their christening ceremonies, he paid twenty five pesos (once baptized the cost for the slaves were doubled at 50 pesos). In 2004, the church was designated a historic monument by the Puerto Rican government. The church is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mayagüez.

Gallery

File:Monuments in Cabo Rojo (2025)-1.jpg, Western façade of the church and Salvador Brau Monument File:Iglesia San Miguel Arcángel, Cabo Rojo.jpg, Church interior

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:San Miguel Arcangel Church Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Roman Catholic churches in Puerto Rico Spanish Colonial architecture in Puerto Rico Neoclassical architecture in Puerto Rico Neoclassical church buildings in the United States 1783 establishments in the Spanish Empire Roman Catholic churches completed in 1783 18th-century establishments in Puerto Rico