The Churches of Chiloé, and yet sublime manifestation of Culture Chilota base, required years of initiatives for Heritage Preservation and Conservation. In response, the Foundation of Friends Churches of Chiloé was speaking not only through the restoration, but also ensuring the sustainability and durability of their works over time, education for awareness and appreciation of the same from local communities .

During the '70s began to be declared national monuments some of the churches of the Religious Architecture Chilota School in Madera, spread across the archipelago of Chiloé.

Churches of Chiloé missionary reached the mid-seventeenth century to 40 buildings; the late eighteenth century and numbered about 80 churches, and a century later there were over 150. During the last decades have been counted only 60 churches in the School of Architecture Religious Chilota Wood, and a large percentage of them are at various stages of deterioration.

Faced with the possibility of a loss of the Architectural Heritage of these churches, by the imminent passage of time and the limited national support to stop its demise, was created in 1976, the Agenda for Protection and Development of Architectural Heritage of Chiloé, through an agreement established between the Diocese of Ancud and the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of Chile.

The first actions of the program were directed to the study of the most significant architecture chilota through the Seminar on the History of Architecture Chilean 5th year, and the workshop "Chiloé", offered both in the university, and through which restoration projects were developed, recycling, proposals for new works and publications.

During the early years, project participants worked in conjunction with the National Monuments Council, the Directorate of Libraries, Archives and Museums, the Association of Architects, etc., Also receiving funding for their first projects from the Office of the President, Community European Economic Spanish International Cooperation Agency, Fundación Andes, municipalities, regional companies, national and international social and cultural institutions, and committees Chapel.

The continued technical assistance from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of Chile, the General Directorate of Architecture, Ministry of Public Works Directorates and Works of the local municipalities, also contributed to the start of this project.

In 1993 the Bishop of the Diocese of Ancud, Monsignor Juan Luis Ysern de Arce, next to the Architect of the University of Chile Hernán Montecinos Barrientos, pose further strengthen the work implemented to define more effective action geared to saving this patrimony, giving way the establishment of the Foundation of Friends Churches of Chiloé.

This nonprofit institution aims at the conservation, preservation and dissemination of historical and religious heritage of Chiloé: churches, imagery, santeria, music, holidays, liturgical furniture, etc., Which became operational by the Vice-President Executive Architect Hernán Montecinos Barrientos, until 2003.

For many years the objectives of conservation and protection of Cultural Heritage Chiloé Religious worked under the concept of "Ming" (ancestral local community institution that was the selfless help of its various members) as a way to organize this task and revive active participation in their communities.

Throughout its history, the Foundation has been increasing its direct participation in the intervention, but never neglecting the importance of community, as an actor and motivation for the development of projects. Thus has developed the following activities:

The first School of Carpenters Mobile Chiloé, which trained students from the transmission of traditional knowledge and skills of Chiloé, for the appreciation and preservation of this ancient craft, mingling with modern technologies and new ways of treating wood, to ensure the existence of trained people for maintenance and Heritage Restoration in the archipelago.

Architectural Restoration Churches Nercón National Monuments, Chonchi Quinchao Vilupulli, Castro, Achao, San Juan and Aldachildo.

Architectural Restoration churches Calen Quetalco, Quicaví, Compu, Teupa, Tey,

Currently, the Foundation works under the Executive Directorate Pressa economist Hernan Osorio, who took office in 2003 and whose management has been directed not only provide technical solutions to the restoration work, but also to incorporate the active participation projects of those who give life to the Intangible Heritage of Chiloé, and create mechanisms that provide the necessary support to prevent future damage and deterioration that today have the Churches of Chiloé.

This will work with the participation of those who reflect the community experience that is still in the places where churches are located, to deal collectively and the process of timely maintenance and recovery of their patrimony.

Achievements

• Collection of the National Monuments Council Award 1997 by The Churches of Chiloé Friends Foundation, a prize which is awarded for the first time this year.

• Recognition of the Churches of Chiloé as part of the Monuments of the World 100 in danger of disappearing, according to the list established in 1996 by the Monuments Watch Found.

• The incorporation of the Churches of Chiloé Cultural Mercosur to integrate a cultural tourist circuit of the Jesuit missions in the subcontinent.

• The nomination by the Bureau of the Committee of UNESCO heritage churches 16 Chilota School of Religious Architecture in Wood, as candidates for the title of World Heritage, between 26 June and 1 July 2000 in Paris, France.

• Ratification of the churches of Achao, Quinchao, Castro, RILAN, Nercón, Aldachildo, Ichuac, Detif, Vilupulli, Chonchi Tenaún, Colo., San Juan, Dalcahue, Shilling and Caguach as World Heritage by UNESCO, November 30, 2000.

• The signing of the agreement between the Cultural and Educational Foundation Friends of the Churches of Chiloé and the Architecture Department of the Ministry of Public Works, to assume a more permanent and active participation in the conservation of churches belonging to the Religious School of Architecture Chilota Wood, 30 May 2001.