the church was reconstructed in the first half of the 17th century, taking on the design and grandeur now recognizable. on 10 january 1637, owing to its early construction in wood (the columns specifically), a new church was begun to replace the original college church (although there was no record of its completion). the retable in the interior was completed between 1643-1646. at one point a small hermitage (called the ) was also built around 1639 (with no vestiges), and later (1643) the company of jesus constructed another hermitage dedicated to "nossa senhora de belém" ("our lady of bethlehem") in the vicinity (receiving houses in the locality, where they constructed a farm for rest and relaxation).