Candon Church

17°11′36″N 120°26′57″E / 17.19325°N 120.44930°E / 17.19325; 120.44930LocationCandon, Ilocos SurCountryPhilippinesDenominationRoman CatholicHistoryStatusParish churchFounded1591Founder(s)AugustiniansDedicationSaint John of SahagunArchitectureFunctional statusActiveArchitectural typeChurch buildingStyleEarthquake BaroqueSpecificationsNumber of towers1AdministrationProvinceEcclesiastical Province of Nueva SegoviaArchdioceseNueva SegoviaClergyArchbishopMarlo Mendoza Peralta

The Saint John of Sahagun Parish Church, locally known as the Candon Church, is a church situated in the city of Candon, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Constructed with an Earthquake Baroque design, the church is maintained and is still being used up to present. The church's four-storey octagonal bell tower has an alternating open and blind apertures, a balustrade and is topped by a campanile (bell tower).

History

In 1591, the Augustinians accepted Candon as a house while Father Pedro Bravo, OSA initiated building one of the early churches in 1695. It was severely damaged in the 1707 earthquake that struck the country, but was rebuilt under the supervision of Father Jose Carbonel, OSA until 1710, and Father Diego del Castillo, OSA until 1713.^[1]

Features

One of the highlights of this church are the two painting on canvas almost 150 feet (46 m) long, representing the 20 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. It is said to be the longest religious painting in the Philippines. Father Vincente Avila, his cousin Mel Andino (an arts teacher), and Andino's student Redentor Castillo were the brains and hands behind the paintings, and was unveiled December 2007.

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  Church interior in 2009
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  Church ceiling
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  Church NHC historical marker

References

External links

• Media related to Candon Church at Wikimedia Commons
• Candon Church on Facebook