The Inglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Expectación, in Cabra del Santo Cristo, is one of the municipality’s most significant heritage sites. Construction began in 1587 and progressed slowly until 1637, when the arrival and subsequent donation of the painting of the Santísimo Cristo de Burgos provided a decisive impetus for its expansion and enhancement. Growing devotion and the influx of pilgrims encouraged the continuation of the works, which were not completed until the early 19th century with the construction of the sacristy.
The church has a Latin cross plan inscribed within a rectangle, a style known as ‘box-shaped’, characteristic of the Baroque period. Its current layout is the result of various construction phases carried out between the 17th and 18th centuries. The main façade and the lower sections of the tower were built in the 17th century, whilst the chancel, the bell tower and other ancillary buildings were completed in the 18th century, incorporating elements of Andalusian Baroque with some Neoclassical details.
Since 1637, it has also served as a sanctuary for the Cristo de Burgos, whose cult has shaped local history. Inside, the 18th-century high altarpiece, dedicated to Christ, stands out, as do various other altarpieces and side chapels dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite the losses suffered during the 20th century, it still preserves items of artistic and documentary interest.
The church was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument in 1981 and is currently classified as a Bien de Interés Cltural (BIC). Its parish archive, containing documents dating back to the 16th century, remains intact.
