The Church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano ("Our Lady of Manzano") or Iglesia de Santa María del Manzano is a Catholic church in the town of Castrojeriz, in the province of Burgos. Construction of the current building was begun in 1214, through the will of Queen Berengaria of Castile, daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and mother of Ferdinand III of Castile. It is located at the foot of the hill on which the Castle of Castrojeriz stands. It previously held the rank of collegiate church.
History
The origins of the church are unknown, but in the tenth century Count García Fernández granted a privilege to the canons of the collegiate church, in which he authorized the canons to build houses with tower and fortresses in the town of Castrojeriz, for which the Count granted his privileges in 974.
In the same privilege, the Count provided the canons with the male villeins of the town and determined that the Castrojeriz canons and clerics could have "five hundred sueldos similar to the Fijos dalgo of Castile". Thus, if someone slandered them or caused violence in their dwellings they should pay a fine of five hundred salaries. Also if anyone killed or smote any Castrojeriz canon or religious adherent a sum of five hundred salaries would be given to relatives of the victim. This privilege was confirmed, as Enrique Flórez indicates in his España Sagrada, by King Fernando IV in 1299, during the period of his minority years as king.
In 1050 it was linked to the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla, located in La Rioja, by King García Sánchez III of Navarre, and was renamed the Santa Maria de Castro abbey. However, when the King of Navarre lost his Castilian possessions the collegiate remained as an exempt abbey for several decades until the reign of Alfonso VII the Emperor when it was linked to the Cathedral of Burgos by that monarch, who gave the abbot of Castrojeriz the rank of dignity in the cathedral and allowed him to occupy the tenth seat in the Choir of the Burgos cathedral. In 1173, during the reign of Alfonso VIII of Castile, the collegiate church was secularized and abandoned the rule of St. Benedict.
In the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century the Manzano collegiate underwent some reforms, such as the transformation of some of its vaults and the enforcement of the rosette in the main entrance. In the eighteenth century the body and sanctuary of the church, the tower and temple covers were renovated. Also built were the Virgen del Manzano chapel, the sacristy of the chaplains, the sacristy of the canons, the Condal crypt, a new apse and choir loft. Biscayan architect Juan de Sagarvinaga was involved in these works.
In the eighteenth century, as indicated by Father Flórez in España Sagrada, masses were officiated in the temple in memory of Alfonso VII the Emperor, Sancho IV of Castile and his wife Queen María de Molina, and Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife, queen Constance of Portugal. The same author relates that, in the eighteenth century, the chapter of the collegiate church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano consisted of the abbot, twelve canons, three dignities and eight prebendaries.
Description
Exterior
The main portal of the church is Gothic, it is located at the foot of the temple and is in the style of a flared bow with Archivolts and baquetones with bases and capitals in plant motifs. On either side are located two stone sculptures from the thirteenth century, and representing the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel, covered with canopies and supported by brackets. In the rose window of the main portal, which was recently restored, God is depicted in an attitude of blessing, and surrounded by the apostles. On the edge of the rose window are the symbols of the four evangelists along with the heads of angels and the coat of arms of the donor.
The portal on the church's south façade is in Renaissance style. The base of the tower of the church is Romanesque, but in the eighteenth century it was renovated when, in 1746 the tower was added to the belfry.
The primitive apse of the church disappeared after the reforms carried out on the temple in the eighteenth century, when it was replaced by the current rectangular head.
Interior
Although the building was completed in Gothic style, the presence of the Romanesque style is visible in some areas. The church, built completely of ashlar stone, has three naves, with five sections, along with the central nave, which measures about seventeen meters taller than the other two. The widths of the nave and side are in proportion of two to one. The aisles, that end in flat chevet, have late Romanesque ribbed arches and Gothic stone arches.