Ribeira Chã

Ribeira Chã
Civil Parish (Freguesia)
A view of the landscape in Ribeira Chã, located on an escarpment overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, as seen from the Miradouro do Pisão
Coat of arms
Official name: Freguesia de Ribeira Chã
Name origin: ribeira chã, Portuguese compound word, for ravine of flatland in rough topography
Country	Portugal
Autonomous Region	Azores
Group	Central
Island	São Miguel
Municipality	Lagoa
Localities	Ribeira Chã
Center	Ribeira Chã
- elevation	97 m (318 ft)
- coordinates	37°43′11″N 25°29′13″W / 37.71972°N 25.48694°W / 37.71972; -25.48694
Highest point	Aguilhões
- elevation	668 m (2,192 ft)
- coordinates	37°44′45″N 25°29′30″W / 37.74583°N 25.49167°W / 37.74583; -25.49167
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	1.10 km (1 mi), Southwest-Northeast
Width	3.69 km (2 mi), North-South
Area	2.5 km2 (1 sq mi)
- land	2.35 km2 (1 sq mi)
- urban	.15 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population	366 (2001)
Density	146.4 / km2 (379 / sq mi)
Settlement	c. 1637
- Parish	c. 1902
- Civil Parish	18 May 1966
LAU	Freguesia/Junta Freguesia
- location	Avenida Enginheiro Eduardo Arantes de Oliveira, Ribeira Chã, Lagoa
- elevation	87 m (285 ft)
- coordinates	37°43′8″N 25°29′12″W / 37.71889°N 25.48667°W / 37.71889; -25.48667
President Junta	Albertina Maria Costa Oliveira
Timezone	Azores (UTC-1)
- summer (DST)	Azores (UTC0)
ISO 3166-2 code	PT-
Postal Zone	9560 - 550 Ribeira Chã
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 292 XXX-XXXX
Demonym	Micalense
Parish Address	Avenida Enginheiro Eduardo Arantes de Oliveira 9560 - 550 Ribeira Chã
Wikimedia Commons: Ribeira Chã
Statistics: Instituto Nacional de Estatística[1]
Website: http://www.ribeiracha.com/
Geographic detail from CAOP (2010)[2] produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP)

Ribeira Chã is a civil parish in the municipality of Lagoa in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. Located along a cliff that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, Ribeira Chã's population in 2001 was less than 400 inhabitants, covering an area 2.5 square kilometres (0.97 sq mi); there were approximately 146 inhabitants per kilometre square. Along with being the southernmost located parish, Ribeira Chã is the smallest parish by population, area and density in the municipality of Lagoa.

History

A historical settlement, Ribeira Chã obtained its name from the ravine that runs alongside the valley that leads into the Atlantic, through a grotto of cliffs and rocky crags.^[3] Until the 17th century, it was a small locality known as a hunting ground for Guinea fowl, and where few settled, owing to difficult accessibility. Those who did settle in the hilltop plain were primarily dedicated to hunting and the woad industry, which is an important economic activity in the Azores until the 15th and 16th century.^[3]

The first population agglomeration developed in 1637: at that time, Ribeira Chã included less than 150 inhabitants. By 1725, a small hermitage was erected in the honour of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda (Our Lady of Help/Aid), ordered construct (with license from Bishop D. Manuel Álvares da Costa) by José Botelho Veloso and Francisca Frias, alongside their home.^[3] The hermitage was constructed for the populous of Ribeira Chã, who were obliged to travel the 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) until the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, in Água de Pau, through the paths and torturous roads, which were dangerous on rainy, windy or warm days.^[3]

In 1749, after visiting Ribeira Chã and confirmed the difficult passage, João de Sousa Bettencourt, representative of the Bispo de Angra and Vicar-General of the Church of Bom Jesus (in Rabo de Peixe) supported the construction of a church and installation of a curia in Ribeira Chã, in order to serve the community. But, the curia would only be installed in 1902.^[3]

By 1811, Ribeira Chã had its first visit from the Bishop of Angra, D. José Pegado de Azevedo, who celebrated mass in the small hermitage.^[3] Owing to the population by the end of the 19th century this was extremely difficult. Consequently, the parochial council in Água de Pau requested that the chaplain, Father Luciano de Medeiros, authorize the construction of a new hermitage, of greater dimension to serve the public.^[3] This temple was constructed in 1853, and dedicated to São José (Saint Joseph).^[3] In 1856, the Civil Governor, Félix Borges de Medeiros, donated to the new hermitage and image of Saint Joseph, which had belonged to the extinct Convent of Conceição, in Ponta Delgada (today the Palace of Conceição, a headquarters of the Azorean government).^[3]

Still in the 19th century, specifically 1879, the first formal primary instruction started in Ribeira Chã, under the tutelage of Ana Emília dos Santos Sousa, a local teacher.^[3]

20th century

At the opening of the 20th century, there were several changes to the parish. In 1904, apart from the installation of the curia, the hermitage's bell-tower was inaugurated and in 1911, the first weddings and baptisms were held.^[3] In 1916, the locality obtained its first cemetery, provided from lands donated by the municipality of Lagoa, through the diligence of João Ribeiro de Lima. In addition, in 1935, the municipal council of Lagoa inaugurated the first school building in Ribeira Chã.^[3]

In 1956, a new cleric arrived from the island of São Jorge, João Caetano Flores, who was a central figure in the parishes history.^[3] He revolutionized the region, initiating a period of growth and progress. In 1962, a new roadway was inaugurated to Ribeira Chã, while a year later the first bus began to connect the parish with Nossa Senhora do Rosário, three times daily.^[3] The following year the historical hermitage of São José was destroyed, while the new church was being constructed. A modernist design, the new church was inaugurated in 1967, designed by architect Read Teixeira, who integrated a mosaic authored by painted Tomás Borba Vieira in the project. But, before its opening, in 1965, the new library and parochial cantinna was inaugurated.^[3] Before his death, Father Flores was present for the inauguration of the three museological centers in the parish: two during the 1980s (the Ethnographic Gardens and Sacred Art Museum), while the latter (Museum Residence of Maria dos Anjos Melo) in the 1980s.^[3] Father Flores was also the originator of a gastronomic fair, that began to run bi-annually.^[3]

Under decree 47014, Ribeira Chã was elevated to the status of parish on 18 May 1966, at the same time creating the ecumenical parish of the same name.^[3][4]

Geography

Ribeira Chã has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasium, a church and a square.

Culture

The church and the local ethnography museums offer glimpses into the cultural life of this agrarian society, that includes a children's garden, multi-purpose sports gymnasium, children's recreational center and seniors center.^[4]

• Museum of Sacred Art (Portuguese: Museu de Arte Sacra), a reconstructed homage to the old Church of Ribeira Chã (1853-1965), that preserves the traditional images of Saint Joseph, Our Lady of Ajuda, Saint Anthony and the 1902 tabernacle. In addition, the old sacristy includes a ceramic reservatory, executed in 1870 and transported to Expo98 in Lisbon.^[4]
• Museum Residence of Maria dos Anjos Melo (Portuguese: Casa Museu de Maria dos Anjos Melo), donated to the church by its former oweder, the house is a typical example of rural life in Ribeira Chã. Inaugurated in 1996, the home includes many of the utensils, furniture and other objects of ethnographic value.^[4]
• Agricultural Museum and Ethnographic Garden (Portuguese: Museu Agrícola e Quintal Ethnográfico), concluded in 1982, the ethnographic museums include examples of the agricultural implements and machinery used in the pastel era, including endemic Azorean plant species.^[4]

References