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After a long period of uncertainty, the historic Church of San Juan in Lorca is finally set to undergo a full restoration thanks to a €2.6 million investment from Spain’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda (MIVAU). The long-abandoned baroque building, scarred by time and weather, is on track to be reborn as a socio-cultural space at the heart of the city’s old quarter. 

 

Lorca’s mayor, Fulgencio Gil, welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm, calling it “a key step in our commitment to reviving Lorca’s heritage.” He also praised the Ministry’s swift response following recent rains that worsened the church’s structural problems. “We are grateful for the sensitivity shown and for the speed with which this process has moved forward,” he said, referencing appeals made by the council earlier this year.

 

The restoration work will tackle the building’s serious structural issues, focusing on stabilising the masonry and vaults, installing a new roof, and sealing off the interior to protect it from the elements. Once safe and secure, the interior will be adapted for cultural and community use, fulfilling a vision first proposed back in 2023.

 

The project has been a joint effort between the City Council and the Spanish Government. Lorca Council, which owns the building, has already paid over €18,000 to fund the execution plan and will also cover the technical management costs of around €44,700. The government, through MIVAU, will finance and oversee the actual construction work.

 

A formal agreement between all parties is expected to be signed in the coming days to kick-start the tendering process. The works are estimated to take 14 months to complete, with the building expected to reopen sometime in 2026.

 

Currently unused due to its deteriorated condition, the Church of San Juan still retains much of its baroque charm, including parts of its original mural decoration. As it sits within Lorca’s designated Historic Site and close to the protected Lorca Castle monument, it carries significant cultural importance, making the case for its urgent restoration all the more pressing.

 

To fast-track the process, the Secretary of State for Housing declared the project a matter of urgency on 5 June, which should help cut red tape and reduce waiting times across the board.

 

The initiative forms part of the national Architectural Heritage Rehabilitation Program, an effort to safeguard important historic buildings for public use. With €24 million earmarked in this year’s state budget, the Church of San Juan is one of several sites across Spain set to benefit from the scheme, which has been running since 1988.

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento Lorca