small hermitage into local cult. At the time there were 300 permanent inhabitants. It first cura was Father Domingos Correia de Ávila. The hermitage, which was owned by Inácio Toste Parreira, was too small install the Holy Sacrament, meaning the parish of Ribeirinha still retained its importance. As a consequence, after its elevation, there was an upswell of interest in constructing a new church of adequate dimensions, therein the intention to expand the hermitage. Yet, the property owner opposed the idea, and did not cede any land for its construction. Following his obstruction, the townsfolk decided to construct the new temple along the Royal Road linking Angra and Vila de São Sebastião, along the Caminho das Vinhas (today Canada das Mercês). As a consequence of this decision, the new Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação was inaugurated in 1868, and the hermitage began to be the responsibility of its property owners. The change in patron came from Inácio Toste Parreira, who did not permit the transference of the image of Our Lady of Mercy to the new church. At the time of its inauguration, therefore, Maria Luísa Guedes Sampaio (widow of Diogo Labatt) donated the image of Our Lady of Consolation. Consequently, the church obtain its patron, while the ecclesiastical parish retained the Nossa Senhora das Mercês, since the Vatican did not authorize the change. The Church of Nossa Senhora da Consolação was officially inaugurated on 20 May 1968, but had to be repaired after damage from the 1980 earthquake. There were approximately 403 homes in 1991. Geography The rural parish is located from the municipal seat of Angra do Heroísmo. The geographic limits of the parish include the parish of Porto Judeu (to the east), Ribeirinha (to the north and west), while it fronts the Atlantic Ocean (to the south). It contains the localities Fajã da Lajinha, Feteira, Nossa Senhora da Esperança, Nossa Senhora dos Mercês, Outeiro and Serretinha. Although the population has decreased, current statistics indicate a leveling of out-migration. Architecture The traditional architecture of Doze Ribeiras resembles much of the rural homes of the western Terceira region, generally constructed around a single floor, many white-washed homes, bordered by multi-coloured trim at the corners, doors and windows. Hermitage of Nossa Senhora das Mercês () Church of Nossa Senhora das Mercês () Império of the Holy Spirit of Ponta Nova do Parada ) Império of the Holy Spirit of