Pedro José Franco López
Technician in Historical and Cultural Heritage
The Ecumenical Temple of Maspalomas “El Salvador”, whose works began in 1969, culminated in 1971 and was inaugurated during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated from January 18 to 15, 1971, although it was on January 21 January when the symbolic inauguration took place with the assistance of Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, president of the Secretariat of Rome for the Union of Christians, a great promoter of ecumenical dialogue and who died five years ago, at the age of 96, and was the oldest Cardinal in the Church; There was also the Bishop of the diocese of the Canary Islands, Monsignor Infantes Florido; the Count of Vega Grande Don Alejandro del Castillo y del Castillo, accompanied by his children; Not in vain he was the philanthropist of the work, as well as the transfer of the land to the Bishopric. The architect of the work, Manuel de la Peña, was also present, accompanied by the artists José Abad and Juan Antonio Giraldo.
Of the Ecumenical Temple “El Salvador” with an artistic, symbolic and monumental content of great relief, if anything, what draws most attention on the outside, in addition to its architectural structure, the work of Architect Manuel de la Peña, is the large fence metal of its façade, sides and a large part of the perimeter of the interior patio, a work of great magnitude (335 m2.) by the Canarian artist José Abad and which resembles broken organ pipes, symbolizing the broken harmony of the Church, which hopes to be reunited .
The Ecumenical Temple has undergone a “facelift” and it is relevant because this iron fence we are talking about was in a great state of deterioration. Jesús Marqués, who spent years agitating Rome with Santiago to obtain financing for the restoration of the fence, without obtaining a response from any of the classes, had no alternative but to resort to the contribution or collaboration of the faithful and users of the services of the Temple and its technical service staff.
This is how, under the direction and advice of Jesús Marqués himself, the Colombian Oscar Henao carries out the work, for which most of the time he has to improvise truly circus numbers and this is how one of the works is saved from total deterioration. most emblematic artistic heritage of our town. There is much to talk – and write – about the Ecumenical Temple “El Salvador” and the fact is that, regardless of beliefs and the religion that is professed or practiced, we are talking about a Heritage that belongs to everyone, for several reasons: For its own sake building itself, not in vain this “inverted ship bow” is one of the most charismatic works of the great exponent of modern architecture: Manuel de la Peña Suárez. For the reasons that led Alejandro del Castillo -Count of la Vega Grande- to take the initiative to build an Ecumenical Temple for the Diocese of the Canary Islands - at the expense of himself -; one of them, the massive attendance of parishioners who came every Sunday to the Church of the Poblado de San Fernando that filled the interior and extended throughout the square and surroundings and that, the Diocese of the Canary Islands and its bishop at that time, Monsignor Infantes Florido to welcome it and give it an ecumenical and, therefore, international character, like the tourist area where it was established.
Also, because the Temple itself is full of symbolic elements, as general as possible, to avoid being identified with any particular confession and, of course, because of the works of art it contains that are Heritage of all: The gate of José Abad ; the Stained Glass Windows of Juan Antonio Giraldo; the rock that acts as an altar; Christ; the iron monolith of the atrium that represents the firmness and depth of faith; multiple elements that are found both in the main nave of the temple and in the Catholic Chapel, from the Tabernacle itself to the gospel lectern itself, etc. Without forgetting the magnificent oil painting of Our Lady of San Salvador, which is kept in the Catholic Chapel and which, together with San Fernando “the boy” was part of the Great Exhibition La Huella y la Senda organized on the occasion of the VI Centenary of the foundation of the Diocese of the Canary Islands.
And, finally, because the Ecumenical Temple as a whole was declared “Excellent in Tourism” in its 2002 edition: “For bringing together tourists in general who visit Maspalomas in its commendable religious, social and cultural work and for being a place where practically all the official and free Churches of Europe coexist in harmony and tolerance” and “Because without losing or sacrificing in the course of any of its essential aspects, it has become the hallmark and the main point of reference of the area most internationally known in Maspalomas: Playa del Inglés”. Merits that also extended to the Rector of the Ecumenical Temple Rev. Don Jesús Marqués Martín-Cerezo because he “has known how to imbue the spiritual value and international relevance that he possesses.”
The above serves only as an attempt for residents, Gran Canarian residents in general and tourists who visit us to know a little more about this indisputable icon and nerve center of Playa del Inglés and the tourist area of Maspalomas. Hopefully it will also serve so that, by the appropriate organization, they will reconsider whether the environment of this Historical and Artistic Monument and also Social and Religious (without official recognition) is adequate, because for a certainty, never, ever, will those who conceived it They imagined him escorted by the harshest aggressiveness of two shopping centers that have turned the epicenter of our tourist area into the most renowned club. And, since Maspalomas does not have, nor do I think it will happen soon, any work by Calatrava, Le Corbusier or Kisho Kurokawa and, crushed by the relentless tractor shovel, the “La Rotonda” restaurant and the Church disappeared. of San Fernando, the most striking, original and daring architectural work of Maspalomas is the “inverted nave” of the Ecumenical Temple “El Salvador”.