Iglesia de Santo Tomás de Cantorbery

Iglesia de Santo Tomás de Cantorbery is a neo-Gothic parish church in Avilés, in Spain's Asturias region, standing in the old fishing quarter of Sabugo. Its two slender towers, rising to around 47 metres, are visible from many points across the city and form one of the most recognisable pieces of the Avilés skyline.

Why was a new church built in Sabugo?

By the late nineteenth century, Sabugo's original small Romanesque church could no longer accommodate its growing congregation. Avilés was going through a period of economic expansion, driven by local merchants and industrialists as well as by the so-called Indianos — Avilés natives who had made their fortunes in Cuba and returned home to invest in local projects. Their money, combined with support from the town council, financed a much larger church meant to reflect the city's growing prosperity and ambition.

What stood on the site before the church?

The plot now occupied by the church previously belonged to the Convento de la Merced, a convent built between 1672 and 1723. After the Mendizábal ecclesiastical confiscations of 1836 stripped the Church of much of its property, the convent building was repurposed several times — serving at different points as a school and a textile factory — before it was finally demolished in 1895, clearing the ground for the new project.

Who designed the church, and when was it completed?

The project was drawn up by architect Luis Bellido González, known for a number of public buildings across Spain around the turn of the twentieth century. Construction began in 1896, and the church was consecrated in 1903. Its inauguration was attended by senior clergy, including the papal nuncio, Monsignor Rinaldini, and the Archbishop of Alcalá-Madrid, Monsignor Guisasola — a sign of how much weight the city placed on the project.

What does the building look like architecturally?

The church follows a neo-Gothic style with a distinctly medievalist character, borrowing forms associated with medieval cathedrals even though the structure itself is a product of the modern era. Its floor plan follows a Latin cross layout, with three naves along the main axis and a single nave across the transept. The façade is framed by two soaring towers that give the building the upward, vertical emphasis typical of Gothic design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the church replace an earlier building on the exact same spot? Not directly — the new church was built where the Convento de la Merced once stood, not on the site of Sabugo's original small parish church, which stood elsewhere in the neighbourhood. That older church simply stopped being the main place of worship once the new, larger one opened.

Who paid for its construction? Funding came from several sources: local merchants and industrialists, the Avilés town council, and the Indianos — emigrants who had built fortunes in Cuba and channelled some of that wealth back into their hometown.

What architectural style does the church represent? It is a neo-Gothic, medievalist building designed by Luis Bellido González, distinguished by its slender towers reaching roughly 47 metres in height.

Where exactly is the church located? It stands in the Sabugo district of Avilés, the city's historic former fishing quarter, close to the old harbour area.