Bangar Church

Bangar Church
Saint Christopher Parish Church

The facade of St. Christopher Church
Bangar Church

Location in the Philippines

16°53′35″N 120°25′27″E / 16.893002°N 120.424286°ECoordinates: 16°53′35″N 120°25′27″E / 16.893002°N 120.424286°E
Location Poblacion, Bangar, La Union
Country Philippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Dedication Saint Christopher
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status Active
Architectural type Church building
Style Baroque
Completed 1689
Administration
Archdiocese Lingayen-Dagupan
Diocese San Fernando de La Union
Clergy
Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas
Bishop(s) Rodolfo Fontiveros Beltran

Bangar Church also known as the Saint Christopher Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Bangar, La Union, Philippines under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Fernando de La Union. The church is placed under the advocacy of Saint Christopher.

Church history

Bangar was formerly a visita of Tagudin. The first church was built by Father Francisco Albear when Bangar was still a visita of Tagudin. A church made of stone and molave on a floor made of lime and pebbles, and roof of split bamboo was completed by Father Albear in 1689. Bangar became an independent parish on 1700 with Saint Christopher as its patron saint. The first parist priest of Bangar, Father Agustin Ancheta was assigned to the parish in 1708.[1] Father Evaristo Guadalupe built a new convent in 1866 and completed in 1878.[2]

Features

The church is a mix of Baroque architecture with neoclassical features. Its facade has a mixture of Baroque, Gothic, and Moorish embellishments. The Gothic features are present on the lancet-arched doorway and the choir loft windows; Renaissance features on the scallops framing the pediment; and Moorish features on the twin bell towers on the facade and another campanile on top of the pediment.[3] It is the only church in Northern Luzon and possibly on the entire Philippines to have three bell towers.[4]

In 2003, the ceiling was renovated and mural paintings were painted on the ceilings.[4]

Notes

  1. Dela Torre 2006, p. 137
  2. Dela Torre 2006, p. 138
  3. Dela Torre 2006, p. 138-139
  4. 4.0 4.1 Dela Torre 2006, p. 139

Bibliography

  • Dela Torre, Visitacion (2006). The Ilocos Heritage. Makati City: Tower Book House. ISBN 978-971-91030-9-7.

External links

Media related to Saint Christopher Parish Church of Bangar at Wikimedia Commons