The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-01-26
SPANISH CHURG.I
ERECTED IN S.
Building Stands Practically Same
as When Finished.
IS WORTHY EXAMPLE OF ART

The old temples, basllicas and btD-
t~istries built in Spain at the dawn Vt
Christianity have all disappeared. and
one can but construct mind pictures
of them from reading the carefully
written literary records. A fairly ac-
curate idea of early Christian archi-
lecture is gained from these descrip.
tions. but to the ordinary reader they
do not carry the same lasting impress
sion that is to be obtained from seeing
a thing for ones self and perhaps
taking a snapshot of it.
There are still standing in Spain to-
day ruins or re-constructions of tenn
Piles built there during the Seventh
century. The ruins of Segobrlga and
the chapel of Eliche, Santa Comba de
Bande and San Miguel de Tarras, the
latter simply a baptistry, are examples
of this early architecture, but in each
case there is either a question as to
the exact date of erection or in its
present r%emodeled state little is left
of the early style and atmosphere.
Rare Specimens of Art.
Francisco Mendizabal, in an article
in "A b c" says that the oldest
church of which the date Of building
is certain is the Basilica of san Juan
Bautista de Banos de Cerrato, built in
661 by Recesvinto, an early king Of
the Visigoths. The peculiar thing
about this church which sets it apart
from others built a few years earlier,
perhaps, and still standing, is the fact
that with slight changes It has kept
through the ages very nearly the same
form in which it came from the hands
of the ancient Visigoth workmen. 1t
is said of this church:
1T is the oldest of the Christian
temples of Spain, and without a doubt
the nos important which has been
preserved with regard to architectural
worth, structure and integrity. 1t is
not a ruin, a fragment. 1t is a COM
plete specimen, unequaled in Spain"
This old basilica, situated not far
from P~alencia, in northern Spain, was
dedicated to st. John by the king who
had it built. Recesyinto, during his
reign, undertook to crush a rebellion
among the Basques, who had revolted
against him. Having accomplished this,
he returned to old CASTLE victorious
but exhausted and Ill, and sought rest
and solace in the quiet fields along the
Pisuerga river.
Storv IF Cure nf Kim
One day, the story goes, he was
walking beside the banks of a clear
stream and, coming to a crystal spring,
he leaned down to drink. Almost as
soon as the water touched his lips he
felt that he was being relieved of the
disease that he had contracted. He
continued to drink, and he did so he
was miraculously curd He attributed
nemrracTg rTSHJofn. To WhoQ pro
lection he had long ago committed
himself, and as an act of gratitude haC
the temple built not far from thu
healing spring and dedicated it to st
John.
1t is a quaint building, this Basilic;
de San Juan Bautista, with its column!
of colored jasper and Corinthian CAPT
tails. The wall of the nave, above tn,
horseshoe arches, is cut by a row o
small windows Of the same horseshoe
shape, and within the church one ma.
see above the central arch the old ded
icatory inscription written so man.
centuries ago. .