English, Greeks and merchants: The Conception Church in Mahon

The British dominations of Minorca stimulated foreign commerce and all sorts of international financial exchanges. The unprecedented flourishing of the local economy was led by many merchants that established in Mahon and its harbour.

Along with the English also arrived to Minorca many Jewish and Greek merchants. The Greek community in 1749 built a church, consecrated to the Orthodox cult, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari. The church was erected in the Cos de Gracia Street, and was built in the Byzantine style and Greek-Cross plan. In 1792 the Greeks were expelled form Minorca, so that the church was abandoned. It wasn’t until 1868 that it was consecrated again, but this time to the Roman Catholic.

The Concepción Church is a curious architectural testimony of one of the most passionate periods of the history of Minorca. The Greek community, and the whole age, has been depicted in the book “Els Nikolaidis” by the Minorcan writer and essayist Josep Maria Quintana. Unfortunately it hasn’t been yet translated into English. The Novel develops the story of a saga of merchants, privateers and bankers settled in Minorca. The walls of the Concepcion Church are still impregnated of the spirit of these entrepreneurial people that arrived to Minorca during the British dominations.