Parish priest Edgar Clara created a series of initiatives to raise the €220,000 needed to restore Lisbon’s Santa Cruz do Castelo Church.
Creativity has no bounds for Edgar Clara, parish priest at the Santa Cruz do Castelo Church in Lisbon. When the cleric discovered that €220 000 was needed to restore the church’s altars and works of art, he had to come up with original ideas to finance the restoration.
In addition to guided tours of the church and the Castelo de São Jorge neighbourhood where the church is located, earlier this month, the parish priest launched a craft beer made from Medronho (arbutus firewater) and cardamom.
Produced in Leiria by a company called Xô and named after the church, Santa Cruz beer is a project developed in partnership with writer Afonso Cruz, author of the book Jesus Cristo Bebia Cerveja (Jesus Christ Drank Beer).
The priest revealed, “I ordered a thousand litres, so I will have the challenge of selling at least three thousand bottles,” priced at €4 a bottle.
Edgar Clara explained that he came up with the idea for the beer after visiting churches in Italy and Germany. Seeing that the project is common in those countries, he found the concept “curious” and applied it in his parish.
In addition to the drink, a biscuit with the same name will be launched. The biscuit will be made with lavender and have a “completely different flavour to what we are used to,” said the priest.
The restoration project for the Church of Santa Cruz do Castelo began in 2018, with the public opening of the bell tower, one of the highest points in old Lisbon. The structure, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, boasts one of the best panoramic views of the capital and the Tagus.
After several years of closure and accelerated degradation, Father Edgar transformed the bell tower into a viewpoint. Today, it is accessed through the old mortuary chapel, which has been transformed into a ticket office and souvenir shop where various products made in national convents, such as wines, biscuits, sweets, and infusions, are sold.
In the past year alone, the bell tower observation deck saw more than 58,000 visitors.
Entry costs €5 and includes a drink tasting (Port wine, sour cherry liqueur, coffee, water, and the new beer). Upon arrival, visitors are shown a short film recounting Lisbon’s history from the arrival of the Crusaders to the present day. Then, they are invited to brave the 50 steps that lead to the top of the tower.
Later, in October, visitors will also have the opportunity to watch the live restoration of several paintings, another of the many initiatives designed to help raise the €220 000 to preserve the monument and its works of art.
The beer is available in the church’s souvenir shop and at the Crafty Corner beer bar in the Alfama neighbourhood.
