Construction of the modern Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1947 and lasted for about ten years. The temple was built on a hilltop in the heart of the Mexican city of Reynosa. The original Art Nouveau building with a spacious central dome and two majestic concrete towers on sides graced this city for almost 70 years. Then the reconstruction was required. It changed the appearance of the temple and strengthened the supporting structure.
Today, a Catholic shrine with a white marble figure of Christ on the facade adorns the central Plaza Miguel Hidalgo. It is the main attraction of Reynosa. But the true history of the church begins long before the official date of its foundation.
In ancient times, before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, these lands were inhabited by Indian tribes. Numerous celebrations in honor of totems were part of their religion. The most significant ritual ceremonies took place on the site where the main temple of the city stands today.
Religion became even more important after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. The mass construction of Catholic churches began. One of them was the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Its construction began in 1810 but was soon suspended until 1835. Then the building was built in the form of a long narrow gallery with two side chapels, a sacristy, and a bell tower. Unfortunately, the church was destroyed until the beginning of the 20th century. Only its bell tower, which became part of the church in 1947, has been preserved. At the very top of the bell tower is a clock of the 19th century. It was brought from Europe in 1898.
The interior of the temple also has many items brought from different parts of the country. There is a marble altar from Puebla, pews from Monterrey, and stained glass windows from Coahuila.
So the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe can be called the oldest building in Reynosa.