The Chapel of Penha de França founded by Antonio Dantas in 1622, was built on a “penha” or peak by the sea. This soon became so famous a shrine that people came to it on pilgrimage from all parts of the Island and in 1721 the chapel was restored and enlarged. When the Diocese of Funchal took possession of the chapel it was used for the bishops as a Country House or Summer Residence for many years. The Franciscans had already been coming to Madeira, but it was only in 1934 that they founded the Franciscan Residence of Our Lady of Penha de França at the request of Bishop D. Antonio Ribeiro.
In 2015 the Franciscans moved to the former convent of São Bernardino in the town of Câmara de Lobos, and the Chapel has reverted back to the Diocese of Funchal. A Catholic Mass is held here in English at the Chapel every Sunday morning at 10am. The nave roof of the Chapel has recently been repaired and the ceiling restored through the generosity of a frequent visitor to our English Mass. The Diocese, in 2017, repaired the roof to the social room and fixed the three bells in the bell tower.
