Summary
The Santa Monica Parish Church (Hiligaynon: Simbahan sang Parokya sang Santa Monica; Filipino: Simbahang Parokya ni Santa Mónica; Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Mónica), also called Panay Church, is a historic Roman Catholic church in Panay, near Roxas City in the province of Capiz, on Panay island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It was built in 1884 on the site of an earlier church, built in 1774 by Miguel Murguia, which was gravely damaged by the typhoon of 17 January 1875.[1]: 423 The church is built of coral blocks and is approximately 70 metres long, 25 m in width and 18 m in height; the walls are about 3 metres thick.[1]: 423 [2]
| Panay Church | |
|---|---|
| Santa Monica Parish Church | |
| Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Mónica (Spanish) | |
| |
 The church in 2022 | |
 | |
| 11°33′20″N 122°47′38″E / 11.555622°N 122.793905°E | |
| Location | Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Rd., Panay, Capiz |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language(s) | Hiligaynon, English |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1698 |
| Founder(s) | Augustinian Friars |
| Dedication | Saint Monica |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | |
| Designated |
|
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Filipino Colonial Neo-Classical Baroque |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 70 meters |
| Width | 25 meters |
| Height | 18 meters |
| Bells | 9 bells |
| Tenor bell weight | 10.4 metric ton (largest bell) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Capiz |
| Metropolis | Capiz |
| Archdiocese | Capiz |
| Deanery | Santa Monica |
| Parish | Santa Monica |
The church has an unusually large bell, the largest in the country. Capiz hosts Asia's biggest “church” bell. This was cast by Juan Reina in about 1884, using sacks of coin given by the people of the town; it weighs more than 10 tonnes.[1]: 423
In 1997 the church was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.[3]
Image gallery edit
-
NHI Historical marker installed in 1997 -
Church interior in 2008 -
Main altar -
Statue of Santo Tomas de Villanueva -
The large bell -
West side of the church -
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at the foot of the bell tower -
Stairway to the choir loft -
Former roof truss of the church -
Artefacts -
Bas-relief by Joseph Bergaño, 1770s
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Pedro G. Galende (1987), Angels in stone: architecture of Augustinian churches in the Philippines. Metro Manila, Philippines: G.A. Formoso Publishing. ISBN 9789718575000.
- ^ Tom Le Bas (editor) (2013). [ Insight Guides: Philippines]. Singapore: APA. ISBN 9781780051222.
- ^ [s.n.] (1997). Cast iron plaque on Panay Church. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Photograph accessed April 2016.
External links edit
Media related to Pan-ay Church at Wikimedia Commons- Panay Church on Facebook
