The Mercedarian order arrived in Guatemala in 1538 and had a church in Antigua by 1546. Earthquakes destroyed it in 1565, and its rebuilt successor fell again in 1717. The present Iglesia de La Merced was completed in 1767 — just six years before the Santa Marta earthquake that led to Antigua's abandonment as capital.
The facade is one of the most beautiful in town: intricate white stucco patterns against a warm yellow background. It's also a fine example of "earthquake baroque," a Central American style born of necessity. Where Mexican churches of the same era soar upward with tall bell towers, La Merced keeps low and squat, designed to survive the next tremor.
The church took damage in 1773 but was repaired and remains active today. The original gilded altars were removed to the new Mercedarian church in Guatemala City when the order relocated to the new capital. You'll find it at the end of 5a Avenida Norte, Antigua's main shopping street — hard to miss, and worth a stop even if you're not attending mass.