Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church (Bayambang)

The Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church is a Roman Catholic church located in the municipality of Bayambang in Pangasinan, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.[1] The parish church will celebrate its quadricentennial year in April 2019.

Bayambang Church
Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church
The façade of Bayambang Church in Pangasinan
LocationBayambang, Pangasinan
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusParish church
Founded1619
DedicationSaint Vincent Ferrer
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleBaroque architecture
Administration
ArchdioceseLingayen-Dagupan
Clergy
ArchbishopSocrates B. Villegas

Architectural history

Father Manuel Mora built a wooden church, with 3 naves, and an old convent at the town of Bayambang in 1804. It was damaged by an earthquake in 1863. In 1869, a second church and convent was built from stone and mortar with galvanized iron roofing.[2] Father Manuel Sucias rehabilitated the church with a cruciform plan in 1804.[3] Father Manuel Sucias (1813-1824); Father Juan Alvarez del Manzano (1833-1835); Father Joaquin Flores; Father Benito Foncuberta (1836-1840); and Father Jose Ibañez (1836-1840) directed and supervised the gradual construction of the church.[2] In 1856, the church was burned. The reconstruction of the church was administered by Father Benito Foncuberto who also built two sacristies and repair the tile roofing which was destroyed by the earthquakes. The galvanized iron roofing measures 16.5 metres (54 ft) wide and 85.7 metres (281 ft) long. Father Ciriaco Billote contributed a new church belfry for the reconstructed church.[3]

Architectural features
View of the church nave and interior from the entrance.

The present stone structures, with its galvanized iron roofs, already existed by 1869. The galvanized iron roofing of the church was heavily damaged during World War II. The church was also damaged during the July 16, 1990 earthquake; thus, making the bell tower a later addition within the church.[3]

The facade is in high renaissance style. It is divided into two levels with six Ionic columns on pedestals running the whole height of the lower level.[4] The pediment was ornamented by statued niches symmetrically designed forming as the second level. The lower ends of the pediment are terminated by massive piers. The two levels are markedly divided by wide horizontal cornice. The main entrance is formed by an arch order with a square window above it. The bell tower on the left is a late addition which is in contrast with the high renaissance style of the church facade.[2]

References
  1. "Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan". Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved 21 Dec 2014.
  2. Alarcon, Norma (2008). Philippine architecture during the pre-Spanish and Spanish periods. UST Publishing House.
  3. "History of the Parish of Bayambang". blogspot.com. Retrieved 21 Dec 2014.
  4. Layug, Benjamin L. (2007). A tourist guide to notable Philippine Churches. New Day Publication.

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