Construction of the first church of Our Lady of Grace was started at the end of the fifteenth century under Captain Álvaro de Caminha. This church was situated near the present cathedral. It became the seat of a diocese in 1534. The building was reconstructed between 1576 and 1578, during the reign of King Sebastian of Portugal. In 1784, it was in poor condition with the frontispiece broken. In 1814 it was rebuilt at the initiative of the local population. The last modification was made in 1956, when the church was remodeled in an eclectic revival style, with a neo-romanesque main façade.
^Madeira da Silva, Teresa (October 2012). "A cidade de São Tomé no Quadro das Cidades Insulares Atlânticas de Origem Portuguesa". Actas do Colóquio Internacional São Tomé e Príncipe Numa Perspectiva Interdisciplinar, Diacrónica e Sincrónica. ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon: 53. hdl:10071/3921.
^Fernandes, José Manuel (October 2012). "As cidades de São Tomé e de Santo António, até aos séculos XIX e XX - arquitectura e urbanismo". Actas do Colóquio Internacional São Tomé e Príncipe Numa Perspectiva Interdisciplinar, Diacrónica e Sincrónica. ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon: 76. hdl:10071/3906.
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