Alone built a church for 40 years

It looks half like a medieval church, half like a castle in Disneyland park. The builder was an 81-year-old man, almost alone doing this for four decades in Spain without a license, drawing or construction experience.

For some, the high-rise building of Justo Gallego's 10-storey building in Mejorada Del Campo, close to the capital of Madrid, is a proof of faith and perseverance. Coca-Cola used it in a 2005 commercial and Gallego on the list of contemporary Spanish artists participating in the exhibition at New York's Museum of Contemporary Art.

But these industrial city officials are very upset about it. Government spokesman Florda Saura said: 'For town hall, Justo's work is a big problem. Everyone loves him, but he lives in another world . '

'It's all in my head,' Gallegro writes on a board hanging behind the door of the giant building. 'I'm not an architect and I admit there's no training in construction'. He explained on his board that he had to choose a writing like this, because his voice was hoarse when he had to answer too many questions.

The high-rise building of his 10-storey Justo Gallego is still under construction
(Photo: fdread.org)

Two questions are posed.Can he finish it? Probably not. And if not, what will happen? Nobody know. Although he had many grandsons, the Gallego wrote his will to his work to the nearby Alcala de Henares bishop.

Mr. Justo Gallego (Photo: zonalibre)

Government spokesman, Mrs. Saura, called this 'poisoned gift'. She said Mejorada del Campo did not have experts or money to take over the project. Many times they asked the regional, central government as well as the Catholic church to help, but did not go anywhere.

'Nobody wants anything to do with it. There are no projects, no construction permits, no inspections, no architect's blueprints. It was completely illegal and there were many lawsuits against him, ' Saura said.

This work is now 40 meters high and is expected to rise. It is located on 8 km ² land that Gallegro inherited from his parents. While the rain and sun broke through the unfinished corrugated iron roof, the old man looked feeble but agile, still diligently moving the materials to the upper floors with a pulley made of bicycle wheels for children. Pebbles, clay bags and cement are sprawled. The rusty scaffold rose high. The bench is filled with candles, cardboard covers prayers and Virgin Mary statues. A large box containing donations from benefactors. He also sold or leased other parts of his land to build more money.

Gallego used to study to become a monk, but was disqualified after suffering from tuberculosis in the early 1960s. So he started working on building this church.

The people in the city expressed sympathy for him.'Justo, we all support him. But one should destroy or complete that church once to finish it , 'said Epifania Corredero, the owner of the gallego's pub. 'Of course he is a bit crazy. If only he had built something more useful. We already have enough churches. '

MC