São Gonçalo Church, Baroque church in central São Paulo, Brazil

Igreja São Gonçalo is a Catholic church on Praça Dr. João Mendes in downtown São Paulo. Its current frontispiece with a single tower dates from 1878, and the exterior is simple, contrasting with the tall stones of the cathedral opposite and the vertical lines of nearby skyscrapers. Inside, the retable of Nossa Senhora da Conceição shows Italian influences, Joanine elements and asymmetrical rocaille work.

The chapel was built in 1756 after Frei Antônio da Madre de Deus Galvão financed it for the Irmandade de Nossa Senhora da Conceição e São Gonçalo Garcia, spurring urbanization near Praça Dr. João Mendes. The current church was built in 1840 by Nicolau Alves da Fonseca, known as Carranca, and its tower frontispiece dates to 1878. The Jesuits took over in 1893, and in 1966 Dom Agnelo Rossi created the Personal Parish of São Gonçalo for Japanese descendants.

The name comes from São Gonçalo Garcia, born in Baçaim, India, crucified in Nagasaki in 1579 and canonized in 1852; the church is officially dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Since 1966 it has been the seat of the Personal Parish of São Gonçalo for Japanese descendants, with a Japanese-language Mass every Sunday at 8 a.m.

The church is accessible to visitors mainly during weekdays when religious services take place. Visitors should remember this is an active place of worship where respectful behavior is expected.

The church is officially dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Conceição, its legitimate patron; the name São Gonçalo stuck through the insistence of devotees of São Gonçalo Garcia during the 18th century. Garcia was born in Baçaim, India, to an Indian mother and a Portuguese father, joined the Franciscans and was crucified in Nagasaki in 1579 with 22 other missionaries.