St. Elizabeth’s Church, Goa

With Christ’s statue featuring at the top of the church, St. Elizabeth’s Church is one of the Old Goa churches built in the elegant Mannerist style and including rococo features. Although once destroyed in a heavy storm, St. Elizabeth’s Church is one of the most beautiful churches in Goa owing to its good maintenance throughout the year.

The Church has three altars, the main altar at the center and two smaller altars on both sides. The statue of the patron saint St. Elizabeth dominates the main altar. The main altar also houses the sanctuary where the Blessed Sacrament is preserved. The right-side altar bears the statue of the Crucified Jesus below and which are smaller statues of St. Anne and St. Anthony. The left side altar bears the statue of Our Lady of Health, whose feast is very popular, and below which are smaller statues of St. Joseph and St. Sebastian. On the right side wall, you can find the Pulpit which was once upon a time used for preaching.

History

St. Elizabeth's Church also known as Santa Isabel de Portugal Church is located in Ucassaim. The construction of the original church building commenced by Franciscans in 1618 and was completed in 1628. The Comunidades of Ucassaim, Bastora, Punola, Paliem, and many private individuals funded the construction. A storm destroyed the church in 1708 and in the same year the church was reconstructed on an enlarged scale. Some major repairs were done internally in 1996 and 2008.
The Church of Ucassaim is dedicated to St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal, and is quite elegant in its architecture.

Architecture

The Church was built in Mannerist style with Rococo features. It has a Rocco curved gable with a crown mounted above the icon and a bell tower to the left. A magnificent statue of Christ the King is found in front of the church. The Church has three altars, the main altar at the center and two smaller altars on both sides. The statue of the patron saint St. Elizabeth dominates the main altar. The main altar also houses the sanctuary where the Blessed Sacrament is preserved. The right-side altar bears the statue of the Crucified Jesus below and which are smaller statues of St. Anne and St. Anthony. The left side altar bears the statue of Our Lady of Health, whose feast is very popular, and below which are smaller statues of St. Joseph and St. Sebastian. On the right side wall, you can find the Pulpit which was once upon a time used for preaching.