Bantay Church

Bantay Church
Saint Augustine of Hippo Parish Church
Shrine of Our Lady of Charity

Facade of Bantay Church in Ilocos Sur
17°34′52.3″N 120°23′30″E / 17.581194°N 120.39167°E / 17.581194; 120.39167Coordinates: 17°34′52.3″N 120°23′30″E / 17.581194°N 120.39167°E / 17.581194; 120.39167
Location Bantay, Ilocos Sur
Country Philippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Dedication Saint Augustine of Hippo
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status Active
Architectural type Church
Style Neo-Gothic and pseudo-Romanesque
Administration
Archdiocese Nueva Segovia
Clergy
Archbishop Marlo Mendoza Peralta

The Saint Augustine Parish Church, commonly known as Bantay Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Bantay, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. The church was dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo. It is also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad) housing the miraculous image of Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Charity, crowned as the patroness of Ilocandia on January 12, 1956. .[1]

The old historic belfry of the church known as the Bantay Tower, which served as a watchtower for pirates back in the Spanish colonial era, gave the town its name - bantay (meaning to guard). Established in 1590, the church is one of the oldest in the Ilocos Region.[1]

Architecture

The church was heavily damaged during World War II and rebuilding was started in 1950. The restored façade is of Neo-Gothic design mixed with pseudo-Romanesque materials and elements. It is designed to be grandiose and reminiscent of Spanish architecture. It uses materials such as bricks and mud.[1]

The belfry sits on a hilltop overlooking a green pasture and the province of Abra. It was used as a watchtower for invading enemy forces during World Wars I and II because of its strategic location. The Bantay Church and bell tower are monumental witnesses to various atrocities and uprisings.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tourism". Experience Bantay. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.

External links

Media related to Saint Augustine Church in Bantay, Ilocos Sur at Wikimedia Commons

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