Simplicity that stands out in the distance – Cristo Rey Parish Church 📷 Málaga – Spain

It may not be centuries old, nor does it feature a Baroque style with ornate or extravagant decorations; yet, from afar, you can see the bell tower and its simplicity, which, against the deep blue sky, stands out from the other buildings thanks to its pure white colour. As we draw nearer, we see the beauty of a church or parish that stems from its few, yet delicate, decorations, its beautiful simplicity, and a bell tower that rises towards the clouds.

I often search the map for new things to surprise me, places to explore and discover. When it comes to churches, what I like most is the art they contain, their history and age; and, of course, the ones I like best are those with a long history spanning the years, which have much to tell and stand the test of time. But that doesn’t mean I overlook the more modern churches. They feature a different kind of art and often surprise me.

In my searches on the map, I always type in the word ‘churches’ and a huge number appear, but I realised that in certain areas there were none at all, until I tried another word: ‘parish’. That reminded me of how I used to teach my students that it all comes down to how you search; if it doesn’t work, you have to change your approach, and that’s exactly what I did. At that moment, I realised there were still many of the city’s hidden gems to discover, and that’s how I came across the Cristo Rey Parish.

At one point in history, its full name was the Parish of Christ the King and Our Lady of the Rosary, following a merger in 1997; however, the former was built in 1942, although it was first conceived in 1937, and the latter in 1967. Then, in 2011, they separated again, and in 2020 they were reunited and are now looked after by the Consolata missionaries.

I was walking along a wide avenue until, at a junction of several streets, I found myself on Santiago Ramón y Cajal Avenue. And from the huge roundabout there, I could see it in the distance, particularly its tower and its white colour on a day when the intense blue of the sky was dotted with a few white clouds casting a slight shadow.

The parish is surrounded by trees and behind it there is a large school, but generally there are no houses around it. It is located in the Ciudad Jardín district and the surroundings are very pleasing to the eye, with a large bridge crossing the avenue, and I immediately thought of going there to see what the church would look like from that vantage point.

It stands imposing, even though it does not have many centuries of history; it is simple, as I said, and already in the distance, some yellow and ochre rose windows stand out, which are found in various parts of the building and allow light to enter the interior. The red decorated roof tiles, in turn, contrast with the bright white of its walls.

I was getting closer and closer. I could see a huge door on one side, which I initially thought was the main entrance, but the entrance was actually behind some bars. The bell tower is beautiful, simple too, but no less important for that. I managed to find some information about this church online, but there was very little. You can read more about its style and construction here.

According to the information I found, the interior has a Latin cross plan, and this detail is repeated in every text I looked at. The truth is that the interior is beautiful. I arrived about twenty minutes before mass and there were few people, so I was able to take photos at my leisure, but without wasting time.

On entering, I noticed that on one side there was a space or section set aside for the parish administration or activities, and on the outside, the parish is connected to the school located further back. Historically, parishes usually belonged to a convent at first, and the convent was later converted into a school. The parish remained separate from the school, but they continued to have a connection. From what I can see, and given the year of construction, this does not appear to be the case here, but they have nevertheless preserved the tradition of every Catholic school having its own parish.

As you enter, you can see the decorations on the walls and the ceiling, which is made of wooden beams in a rustic yet visually appealing style. The website I mentioned also discusses the style and details of the interior.

It is very well lit; the rose windows on the outside let the light in in a way that harmonised with their floral shape, whilst inside there were beautiful stained glass windows with colours that also stood out against the walls.

I could also see that this side entrance was probably used as the main entrance at some point, as it is at the back of the church. Simplicity was evident everywhere, but it is also well maintained considering it is a church that is around 80 years old.

As well as the rose windows, which I loved, I’d like to highlight the lamps hanging from the ceilings; they were of a distinctive style and very beautiful, as were the large, colourful stained-glass windows at the altar. I mustn’t forget to mention the wooden ceilings with their decorations, which have a very distinctive style and contrast with the white walls.

The feeling inside was one of calm and peace, and although it doesn’t have a long history, nor any tales of wars or the like, the place is very beautiful. I also enjoy discovering new buildings.

As I mentioned, when I left I walked around the outside; I made my way to the Nuestra Señora del Pilar school, which is lovely, by the way. I stopped for a moment to take some photos and get a feel for the area around the parish church, and then I climbed up to the bridge, I felt a bit dizzy, but I managed it.

The view of the dome and the tower amidst the clouds is stunning, and the area is full of trees and palm trees, which make it even more special.

It’s been an extraordinary visit; the area is unlike anything I’ve explored before. Every neighbourhood has its own style, and I hope to keep discovering more hidden gems in the city. Thank you very much for joining me today; I send you my warmest regards. See you soon.
Amonet.