San Agustin (Paoay)
The Church of San Agustin ( Spanish Iglesia de San Agustin ) in the town of Paoay in the province of Ilocos Norte in the west of northern Philippine island of Luzon is one of the most important historical church buildings in the country and belongs since 1993 as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines to UNESCO - world heritage Site .
history
Monks of the Augustinian order founded in 1593 in about 3 km from the sea remote location Paoay a parish and built a first church of wood and reeds or grass. In 1686 Paoay was recognized as an independent parish under the direction of the order. Today's brick- built church, covered by an open roof , was built between 1693 and 1710. The bell tower, which is separate from the actual church building, dates from the end of the 18th century; it also served as a watchtower at times during the Katipunan uprising . After two earthquakes in 1865 and 1885, the church was restored at the end of the 19th century.
architecture
church
The church with a flat-closing apse protruding from the structure is a plastered and whitewashed brick building with a width of approx. 20 m and a length of approx. 35 m; In parts, rubble stones made from corals were also used. The building is stabilized by 24 mighty side buttresses that protrude ever wider and have stuccoed volutes at the bottom and in the middle and end in small vase-like attachments at the top. The facade front is divided into fields by significantly narrower buttresses and thus structured; the pediment contains a figure of St. Augustine and two medallions on the side with the representations of the sun and moon. The side by twin columns apparently in several yokes divided interior is by wooden supports in three ships divided; the roof cover is made of corrugated iron , underneath which openings ensure air circulation.
tower
The bell tower, about 100 years younger, stands at the side of the church; Due to the distance, a possible collapse cannot damage the church. It consists largely of a masonry made of precisely hewn coral stones, into which several wall niches, windows and sound openings are let; In addition, it is accompanied by vase-like or obelisk-like decorative motifs on every floor level and ends at the top with a dome .
literature
- Nelson Bagaforo: Historic churches of Ilocos Norte. SunStar 1991.
- Mike Aquino: Touring the oldest churches in the Philippines. 2013.
Web links
- Paoay Church - Photos + Info (English)
- Paoay Church - Photos + Info (English)
- Paoay Church - Photo + Info (English)
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 18 ° 3 ′ 41.5 ″ N , 120 ° 31 ′ 17.5 ″ E