Bangar Church

Bangar Church
Saint Christopher Parish Church
Parokya ni San Cristobal (Filipino)
Church facade in 2013
Bangar Church Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Bangar Church Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines
16°53′35″N120°25′27″E / 16.893002°N 120.424286°E / 16.893002; 120.424286
Location	Poblacion, Bangar, La Union
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Saint Christopher
Architecture
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)	Daniel O. Presto

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

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 parish 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]

Architecture

Church interior in 2018

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 , pp. 138–139
4. Dela Torre 2006 , p. 139

Bibliography

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

External links

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