Panay Church

The Santa Monica Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Mónica), also called Panay Church, is a historic 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
11.555622°N 122.793905°E / 11.555622; 122.793905
LocationIloilo East Coast-Capiz Rd., Panay, Capiz
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
Founded1698
Founder(s)Augustinian Friars
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationNational Cultural Treasure
DesignatedJuly 31, 2011
Architectural typeFilipino Colonial Neo-Classical Baroque
Specifications
Length70 meters
Width25 meters
Height18 meters
Bells9 bells
Tenor bell weight10.4 metric ton (largest bell)
Administration
ParishSanta Monica Parish
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Capiz
ProvinceCapiz

The church has an unusually large bell, the largest in the country. 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]

Main altar
Coral stone masonry
Inscription on the largest bell
Historical marker plaque
  • Façade
  • Statue of Santo Tomas de Villanueva
  • The large bell
  • One of the smaller bells
  • West side of the church
  • Coral stone masonry
  • 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

References
  1. Pedro G. Galende (1987), Angels in stone: architecture of Augustinian churches in the Philippines. Metro Manila, Philippines: G.A. Formoso Publishing. ISBN 9789718575000.
  2. Tom Le Bas (editor) (2013). [ Insight Guides: Philippines]. Singapore: APA. ISBN 9781780051222.
  3. [s.n.] (1997). Cast iron plaque on Panay Church. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Photograph accessed April 2016.
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