The artwork was preserved by specialists from the Historical Archive and the Communication and Image Office of the municipality of Óbidos, at the request of the Church Committee of Santo André do Arelho, the location where the festival took place from the early 19th century until the mid-20th century.
“This documentary record is a historical testament to the religious and community life of the area,” stated a communiqué in which the local authority emphasized that the conservation and digitization of the manuscript ensures “not only the safeguarding of the original document but also its accessibility for study and consultation in the future.”
The account book, dating back to the early 19th century and now returned to the Church Committee of Santo André do Arelho, “represents an important historical and identity legacy for the local community,” the same statement noted.
