Interfaith partnership restores historic chapel in Portugal

Lisbon: A historic chapel in northern Portugal has reopened after being destroyed in the devastating wildfires that swept through Gondomar, just east of Porto, in September 2024. The restoration was made possible thanks to a unique collaboration involving local authorities, the Catholic Church and the Ismaili Imamat.

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Aflição in Branzelo was originally built in 1884 and has long served as a place of worship and community life. It has now been fully rebuilt and returned to the community. The work was carried out as a joint effort of the Gondomar City Council, the Parish Council of Melres e Medas, the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), with support from the Portuguese Government and senior figures of the Catholic Church. The chapel is privately owned by a local family that has granted its use to the community.

“The destruction of the chapel was a deeply felt loss, a painful blow that left a void in our lives and in the lives of the people of Branzelo,” said Elvira Duarte, whose family has cared for the chapel since 1952. Read Elvira Duarte’s speech.

AKTC, the cultural agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, provided specialist technical expertise, while both AKTC and the Ismaili Imamat contributed direct funding. The restoration followed heritage conservation principles and incorporated modern safety and accessibility features, using traditional materials and artisanal techniques to preserve the chapel’s historical character.

“This work was not only a response to a calamity. It was an act of preservation, a gesture balancing technical rigour, respect for authenticity and symbolic value,” said Rui Correia, the architect who oversaw the project. Read Rui Correia’s speech.

The reopening took place during the annual festival in honour of Our Lady of Affliction, the chapel’s namesake and an important expression of faith and tradition for the people of Branzelo and the wider region. Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, attended the ceremony alongside the Mayor of Gondomar, representatives of the Portuguese Government, senior figures of the Catholic Church and other dignitaries. During the ceremony, the Aga Khan Foundation and Gondomar municipality signed a protocol to advance local social and community initiatives.

“The restoration is not only of great importance to the local community and those who worship here, but also symbolises the solidarity between the Ismaili Imamat and the Catholic Church, and our respective institutions,” said Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan. “It is also a testament to the strength of the bond between the Ismaili Imamat and the Portuguese Republic – a bond anchored in the shared values of respect for human dignity, pluralism and a commitment to bring hope and opportunity to all peoples, regardless of faith or origin.” Read Prince Aly Muhammad’s speech.

This restoration is part of AKTC’s broader cultural development work worldwide, demonstrating how revitalising heritage can strengthen communities and preserve cultural identity.