Holy Cross Church, Hanga Roa

Holy Cross Church sits on Te Pito Te Henua Street with a white exterior accented by volcanic stone and wooden carvings throughout its structure. The interior is modest in size, with simple furnishings arranged to serve the needs of the local congregation.

The church was founded in December 1937 by missionary Father Sebastian Englert, making it the first permanent Catholic institution on Easter Island. Its establishment marked a pivotal moment in spreading Christianity across this remote and previously isolated archipelago.

The interior blends Catholic and Rapa Nui artistic traditions, with saint sculptures and traditional symbols carved into wooden surfaces throughout. This fusion shows how the local community integrated their own cultural forms with the faith brought by missionaries.

The church is easy to reach as it sits in Hanga Roa, the main town on the island with shops and restaurants nearby. Services take place in Spanish, though traditional hymns are sung in the Rapa Nui language, so you may hear both during your visit.

The church houses a distinctive baptismal font decorated with rongorongo symbols, the island's mysterious written script. The Christ figure inside wears a headdress made from shells and bones, showing how local craftsmen blended religious imagery with island materials.