The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, has reiterated the island Corporation’s dedication to the conservation of the historical heritage, with the restoration and reopening of the church of San Bartolomé de Tejina for worship. This ceremony occurred today (Saturday) and Dávila was accompanied by the insular director of Heritage, Isabel de Esteban; the general director of Heritage from the Government of the Canary Islands, Miguel Ángel Clavijo; the mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the diocesan administrator, Antonio Manuel Pérez Morales; the architect, Javier Álvarez, and the contractor for the works, Felipe Méndez. A considerable number of local residents also attended the ceremony.
Rosa Dávila emphasised the efforts made by the Historical Heritage sector of the Cabildo of Tenerife, which, through its funding programme, has facilitated the conservation and restoration of this architectural treasure. “Thanks to these grants, works have been executed that not only enhance the edifice, but also ensure its safeguarding for future generations. The Cabildo’s commitment to protecting our heritage not only fosters the conservation of our history but also enriches the cultural and tourist appeal of our island. The restoration of the Church of San Bartolomé is a remarkable example of what can be accomplished when institutions and the community unite with a shared objective. It illustrates how historical heritage should not just be preserved, but experienced and celebrated as an intrinsic part of our identity. I also wish to extend gratitude to all those involved in this initiative, from the technicians and craftsmen who meticulously restored every detail, to every local resident who, with their patience and cooperation, has made it possible for us to gather here today,” remarked the island president.
Meanwhile, the mayor of La Laguna, Luís Yeray Gutiérrez, stated, “Tejina is reclaiming one of its most significant historical edifices in the heart of the town. This is excellent news for the monumental heritage of every municipality and the island of Tenerife, and we must recognise not only the contributions from the three public administrations, which should serve as an example of institutional collaboration, but also the residents of Tejina who have financially supported these rehabilitation efforts.”
The diocesan administrator, Antonio Manuel Pérez Morales, expressed gratitude to the Cabildo of Tenerife for its assistance in restoring the temple, extending this appreciation to the entire community of Tejina.
The Restoration
The Church of San Bartolomé de Tejina, with its origins dating back to the 16th century, has been designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest, classified as a Monument. The restoration is part of the initiatives outlined in the Insular Historical Heritage Programme for 2023-2027. This programme has allocated a budget of three million euros for this year, with an additional 2.5 million euros set to be added in 2025, and it is anticipated that the total could reach 9.1 million euros by 2027. Of this amount, the Cabildo of Tenerife will contribute 6.4 million euros and the Bishopric of Tenerife will add 2.7 million euros in total.
The cost of restoring the temple of San Bartolomé de Tejina has surpassed 900,000 euros, with an agreement stipulating an 80% contribution from the Cabildo, while the Bishopric covers the remaining 20%.
Prior to the restoration process, the temple exhibited considerable degradation. The undertaken work has involved a comprehensive recovery of the property while respecting its heritage values.
The actions executed included the inventory, cataloguing, relocation, and protection of the entire movable heritage, the frescoes adorning the church’s walls and altarpieces; examination and replacement, where necessary, of structural elements and facilities; disassembly of the wooden roofs of the property to access the underlying wooden structure. Once all elements of the wooden structure were cleaned or replaced, the roof structure was reassembled; in the skirts forming the side naves, existing coatings were removed in areas where cracks were detected, as well as signs of oxidation on the reinforcing elements of these naves’ roofs followed by new coating with structural mortar; restoration of the stone portico on the main façade; repair of ashlars; restoration of carpentry on doors and windows; expansion of the toilets and floral arrangement area, and replacement of the square’s pavement in the demolition area of the parish house, utilising concrete tiles that closely match those already present on the Temple’s exterior.
