The church of San Roque in Molina de Segura
A small church at the southern end of the town centre in Molina
The Ermita de San Roque is a small church which stands on the Calle Mayor to the south of the centre of Molina de Segura, not far from the entrance into the town along the old main road from the city of Murcia. Alongside is a small square which also bears the name of the same saint.
The church was built between 1835 and 1850 to replace a smaller place of worship which had stood since the 15th century nearer the hill on which the castle used to stand, in Calle Santo Sepulcro. The dedication of the new church to San Roque reflects the problems experienced in Molina with pestilence, as the Saint is believed to protect those who worship him from the plague and other illnesses.
At present the simple exterior of the Ermita de San Roque is painted blue, although in the past it is known to have been reddish-brown in colour, and this use of bright colours is fairly typical of a style which was popular in the Region of Murcia in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Inside, apart from the figure of San Roque which was based on one created by Francisco Salzillo in 1757, are various other processional sculptures created by Bernabé Gil Riquelme and belonging to the brotherhood called the Cofradía del Santísimo Cristo de las Penas. This brotherhood takes part in the holy procession through the streets of Molina every Easter Thursday, an event which is held in reverential silence to commemorate the Last Supper.
Click for full information about the Molina de Segura municipality in English
