Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Batangas City)
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Spanish: Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción) is a minor basilica in Batangas City, Philippines. It was made an independent parish in 1614 under the advocation of the Immaculate Conception.[1] The paintings were restored by Rex Papasin, a Batangueño artist. The Church is temporarily closed to the public after it was affected by the 2017 Batangas earthquakes.
| Batangas City Basilica | |
|---|---|
| Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Basilika Menor ng Inmaculada Concepcion Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción | |
| Batangas Basilica | |
 Façade of the church of Batangas | |
| |
| 13°45′15″N 121°03′33″E | |
| Location | Batangas City |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Minor Basilica |
| Dedication | Immaculate Conception |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Neo-classical architecture |
| Completed | 1857 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 71.35 metres (234.1 ft) |
| Width | 14.27 metres (46.8 ft) |
| Number of domes | 1 |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Number of spires | 2 |
| Materials | Adobe and wood |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Lipa |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Gilbert Garcera |
| Priest in charge | Aurelio Oscar B. Dimaapi |
History
Earlier Churches
Fr. Diego de Mojica was said to have constructed the first temporary church made of light materials in 1578. The Church was put under the title of the Immaculate Conception.[1] The church was burned down by the fire that gutted the whole town in 1615. In 1686, Fr. Jose Rodriguez began laying the new foundation of a new church made of stone. The main nave was finished in the same year with the help of Fr. Manuel del Buensuceso and the townspeople. Fr. Jose de San Bartolome completed the transept made of reef stone on 1706[1] and it was blessed in 1721. The church was gutted by fire again after a lightning bolt in 1747 and was repaired in 1756 during the time of Don Ramon Orendain.
Present Church
The former Father Provincial, Fr. Pedro Cuesta, demolished the old church which he found too small for the increasing population of the town and started the construction of the new one on the same site in 1851.[1] He also built the strong fence of the atrium to enclose the church and convent. The church was damaged by earthquake in 1863 and repaired and reinforced with walls and buttresses. After the roof fell in 1880, it was repaired in 1884 by Fr. Bruno Laredo.[2] The convent built in 1693, of reef stone and huge molave post withstood all the earthquakes until Fr. Melchor Fernández constructed a new one in 1792.[1] It was later used as a school building by the Saint Bridget College. Later on the second floor of the convent was demolished and was converted into a parish pastoral hall.
The church has undergone several restorations. The second and third stories of the belfry was completed in 1934. In 1936, old windows were changed and 23 chandeliers were added. The facade collapsed during the April 8, 1942 earthquake and was repaired between 1945 and 1946.[2] In 1954, the exterior was painted with general repairs in 1957. The exterior was beautified and the frescoes were retouched on the occasion of the centennial celebration.[1]
On February 13, 1945, the church was declared a Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The Declaration was made upon the request of Lipa's Bishop Alfredo Verzosa.[1]
References
- Galende, Pedro (1987). Angels in Stone (1st ed.). G.A. Formoso. pp. 80–83.
- "Batangas City". Biyahero: Philippine Travel Portal. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
External links
Media related to Basilica Minore of the Infant Jesus and Immaculate Conception of Batangas City at Wikimedia Commons