Bantay Church
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 by the Pope as the patroness of Ilocandia on 12 January 1956.[1]
| Bantay Church | |
|---|---|
| Saint Augustine of Hippo Parish Church Shrine of Our Lady of Charity | |
  Bantay Church (top) and its bell tower (bottom) in Ilocos Sur | |
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| 17°34′52.3″N 120°23′30″E | |
| Location | Bantay, Ilocos Sur |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Augustine of Hippo |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Neo-Gothic and pseudo-Romanesque |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Nueva Segovia |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Marlo Mendoza Peralta |
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 War II because of its strategic location. The Bantay Church and bell tower are monumental witnesses to various atrocities and uprisings.
References
- "Tourism". Experience Bantay. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
External links
