La Merced Church (Honduras)

The Merced church also known as "Iglesia de la Merced" is a Catholic church in Comayagua, Honduras built in 1550 during the colonial era of New Spain. It is the oldest church in Honduras, being built in 1550 by Fray Gaspar de Quintanilla with the name of Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción. It was also the first Honduran church to receive the cathedral designation in 1561 meaning that is the oldest church still in foot in Honduras,^[1] although it now functions as a parish.^[2] The church is dedicated to the Virgen de la Merced and is located in the historic colonial quarter of Comayagua.