Capul Church

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Capul Church
  • Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish Church
  • Simbahan ng Parokya ng San Ignacio ng Loyola (Filipino)
  • Iglesia Parroquial de San Ignacio de Loyola (Spanish)
Simbahan ng Capul.jpg
Church facade
Capul Church
12°25′22″N124°10′57″E / 12.422773°N 124.182362°E / 12.422773; 124.182362
Location Capul, Northern Samar
CountryPhilippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Status Parish church
Founded1596
Dedication Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designation National Cultural Treasure
Architect(s) Mariano Valero
Architectural type Church building
Style Fortress church
Completed1781
Administration
Archdiocese Palo
Diocese Catarman
Clergy
Archbishop John F. Du
Bishop(s) Emmanuel Trance

The San Ignacio de Loyola Parish Church (Spanish : Iglesia Parroquial de San Ignacio de Loyola), commonly known as Capul Church or Fuerza de Capul, is a Roman Catholic fortress church in the municipality of Capul, Northern Samar, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Catarman. It was first established as a mission station by the Jesuits in 1596 under the advocacy of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Contents

The church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.

History

The church and its surrounding fortress Capul Church, Northern Samar.JPG
The church and its surrounding fortress

Capul was first established as a mission station by the Jesuits in 1596. [notes 1] The first church made of nipa and hardwood was dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. [1] Moro attacks from the Pacific Ocean destroyed the church. [2] A new church made of stone, along with a fortress, was built to protect the town from Moro invasion in the 1600s. Father Juan Isandi, [notes 2] last Jesuit priest to Capul, died during the Moro attacks in 1768. [3] [4] After the Jesuits were expelled in the country, the Franciscans later supervised Capul in 1768 with Father Joaquín Martínez as the first Franciscan priest there. [1] [3] The church was again destroyed by the Moro and Father Mariano Valera supervised the reconstruction of the third church and construction of the 11 metres (36 ft) high bell tower in 1781. [2] [5] On 8 November 1864, Capul was elevated as a parish by the Bishop of Cebu. [notes 3] [1]

Architecture

Church interior in 2012 Interior of Church of Capul, Northern Samar.jpg
Church interior in 2012

The church is an example of a Spanish fortress church. [1] [4] It is surrounded by strong stone walls and bastions of dissimilar designs. Father Valero designed the church with a cross-shaped wall made of stone, similar to Intramuros. [2] When Moro attacked the town, the people of Capul would take refuge inside the church. The bell tower is located on the left side of the church. A stone watchtower on a huge rock is located near the church complex. [4] A small chapel, probably a mortuary chapel, can also be found inside the complex. [3]

Its facade is simple as it forms a defensive wall. Pilasters and a split pediment around the central door only adorn the facade. [3]

A typhoon destroyed the church's neo-gothic altar in 1947 and in 1987, another typhoon caused extensive damage when it ripped off the roof and ceiling. The church was afterwards repaired but is virtually an empty shell. The storm also destroyed the church's convent. [3]

Historical and cultural declarations

Church NHC historical marker Historical Marker of Capul Church, Northern Samar.JPG
Church NHC historical marker

A historical marker was installed to Capul Church on 5 August 2011. [1] [4] [6] It was also declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2014. [7]

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Javellana, the Jesuits may have reached the island in 1610. The date 1596 comes from the marker of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
  2. ↑ Also spelled as Esandi.
  3. ↑ The marker of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines states that Capul was elevated as a parish on 8 November 1864. Javellana states that Capul was elevated as a parish on 18 November 1869 in conformity of an episcopal decree dated 12 September 1864

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Simbahan ng Capul". National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures in the Philippines. National Historical Commission of the Philippines . Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Lee, Ma. Glaiza (15 September 2013). "Capul: A once forgotten island". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Javellana, Rene. "Northern Samar". Panublion: Heritage Sites of the Visayan Islands in the Philippines. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Labro, Vicente (9 August 2011). "Ancient fortress church of Capul, Northern Samar". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Santiago, Alvin (15 April 2014). "Northern Samar's Capul Island is a must see destination this summer". DWDD. Retrieved 29 November 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ Jimenea, Lalaine (31 August 2011). "Northern Samar's 396 year old church declared historical site". The Freeman. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Henares, Ivan. "Capul Church, Watchtowers of La Union, Gota de Leche and Lopez Ancestral House declared by National Museum". Ivan About Town. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
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