As igrejas em Paraty eram segmentadas pela cor da pele: a igreja de Santa Rita era para os mulatos libertos, a de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito era para os negros, a de Nossa Senhora das Dores era para a elite branca e a Matriz de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios destinada aos trabalhadores e pescadores brancos.
A igreja da Santa Rita, foi aberta ao público em 30 de junho de 1722, tornando-se a mais antiga igreja de Paraty devido às demolições da Capela de São Roque, das antigas igrejas Matriz e da igreja de Nossa Senhora do Mamanguá.
Lúcio Costa, o arquiteto que ajudou a projetar a cidade de Brasília, considerou esta a mais bela arquitetura religiosa da cidade, sendo interessante observar os detalhes trabalhados do gradil da sacada interna, o trabalho na madeira das portas e dos altares colaterais, o galo marcador de vento na torre externa e o relógio na fachada. Numa construção anexa à igreja, está o cemitério da Irmandade em estilo columbário (com tumbas embutidas), construído no século XIX. Existe nesse anexo um poço de água transparente que muitos acreditam ser milagrosa. Assim como todas as igrejas de Paraty, esta possui fachada voltada para o mar. Atualmente a Igreja da Santa Rita vem sendo utilizada para concertos, peças de teatro, exposições e conferências. Nos fundos da igreja está o Museu de Arte Sacra.
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The Main Church is located in front of the square with the same name and has an important construction in a style called “maneirístico”. The work was not finished due to lack of resources. In the front façade, it is observed that the two towers were not finished, being small for the church size and, at the backward, stones are highlighted from the external columns, indicating that it would be built more walls. In 1863, the emperor D. Pedro II visited Paraty and registered on his diary about this church. “It is big and there aren’t towers and place for the priest meeting. Ask for help (financially)to Province” . Inside the church, we can find saints image from the centuries XVII,XVIII and XIX, among others and São Roque (the oldest image, originated from the first chapel of the village), São Miguel das Almas, São Francisco, Senhor dos Passos, Nossa Senhora das Dores and Sagrado Coração de Jesus. In the high-altar is the Protector Saint Nossa Senhora dos Remédios , surrounded by her parents, Santana and São Joaquim. Next to the entrance, in the left side, there is the baptistery with baptismal sank made of marble.
The Santa Rita church was opened for the public in 30th of June of 1722, becoming the oldest church of Paraty due to the demolitions of São Roque Church, of Main Church and Nossa Senhora do Mamanguá.
Lucio Costa, the architect who helped to plan the Brasilia city, considered this the most beautiful religious architecture of the city, being interesting to note the detailed of the grids and internal balcony, the work made of wood in doors and form the side ateliers, the cock which marks the wind in the external tower and the façade clock. In a construction attached to the church, is the Irmandade cemetery in “columbário” style (with tombs inserted), constructed in the century XIX. There is in this annex, a transparent water well which many people believe to be miraculous. So, as all Paraty churches, this one has a façade oriented to the sea. Nowadays, the Santa Rita church has been used for concerts, theater pieces, expositions and conferences. In the back part of the church has the Sacred Art Museum.
