San Pedro Apostol Church (Apalit)

Apalit Church
San Pedro Apostol Parish Church

Facade of the San Pedro Apostol Church in Pampanga
Apalit Church
Location in the Philippines
14°57′13″N 120°46′21″E / 14.953742°N 120.772509°E / 14.953742; 120.772509Coordinates: 14°57′13″N 120°46′21″E / 14.953742°N 120.772509°E / 14.953742; 120.772509
Location Apalit, Pampanga
Country  Philippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status Active
Architectural type Church building
Administration
Archdiocese San Fernando
Clergy
Archbishop Florentino Lavarias

Apalit Church is a Neo-Renaissance-style church located at Apalit, in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. The additional construction of the two towers beside the church served as reinforcements to improve the structural integrity of the church. Also, the church houses bells manufactured by the Sunicos.

History

In 1597, Apalit Parish of Saint Peter was created after its separation from the Parish of Calumpit. Fr. Pedro de Vergara was the first parish priest of Apalit. A traditional fluvial parade known as Apung Iru or Libad Festival was initiated by Capitan del Pueblo Don Pedro Armayan Espiritu on June 28, 1844, in honor of St. Peter.[1]

Architectural history

Fr. Juan Cabello

Fr. Simon de Alarcia

Fr. Antonio Redondo

Fr. Toribio Fanjul

Msgr. Rustico G. Cuevas

Architectural features

Apalit Church measures 59 meters long and 14 meters wide. The facade resembles Neo-Renaissance Style with its plain, low segmental pediment and the symmetrical alignment of 2 flanking towers. The semi-circular main door with a circular window above is framed by receding semicircular arches in relief.[2]

The ceiling art paintings, also known as trompe l'oeil were done by a native of Apalit, under the supervision of Caesare Alberoni, an Italian free-lance painter. One notable ceiling art paintings was located in the cupola of the Apalit Church, giving a rendition of the Apocalypse.[4]

There are 6 bells located at the Apalit Church, 5 of which came from Fundicion de Hilario Sunico Jaboneros.[4]

Below were the list of the bells with corresponding inscriptions:

Left northeastern tower Weight (in lb.) Inscription
Smallest bell 1/2 lb. AÑO 1895-5 @ (ARROBAS)
Front, cracked 3 lbs. SAGRADO CORAZON DE MARIA-SIENDO CURA PARROCO EL M.R.P. FR. TORIBIO FANJUL AÑO 1896 31
Second largest bell center stationary 8 lb. S. PEDRO Y S. PABLO-FVNDIOSE ESTA CAMPANA EL AÑO DE 1821 SIENDO CVRA DE APALIT EL R.P.DIF.r F. JOSEPH POMETA AL TRIDECIMO AÑO DE CURA DE DICHO PUEBLO-FECIT BENITVS a REGIBUS-44
Right southeastern tower Weight (in lb.) Inscription
Second smallest bell, clapperless - SAN PEDRO DONACION DE D.a SABINA SIOCO-SIENDO CURA PARROCO EL REV. P. ANDRES BITUIN-APALIT, PAMPANGA. AÑO 1931-61 kilos
Big, clapperless bell (made outside of wrought metal bearing) 6 lbs. * hardly-legible inscription
Front, biggest bell, chipped 10 lbs. SAGRADO CORAZON DE JESUS-SIENDO CURA PARROCO EL M.R.P.F. TORIBIO FANJUL AÑO 1896-44

Present condition

Marker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines

The marker of Church of Apalit was installed in 1939 at Apalit, Pampanga. It was installed by Philippines Historical Committee (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines).[5]

Church of Apalit
DATES FROM 1590. THE FORMER CHURCH, BUILT OF BRICK, WAS DESTROYED BY THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1863. THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED BY MARIANO SANTOS, OF GUAGUA, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE REV. ANTONIO REDONDO, O.S.A., BETWEEN 1876 AND 1880. ITS TOWERS WERE FINISHED IN 1896 BY THE REV. TORIBIO FANJUL, WHO PURPOSELY MADE THEM LOW TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to San Pedro Apostol Church, Apalit.
  1. 1 2 3 "Man-made attraction, Apalit St. Peter Shrine". November 1, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Alarcon, Norma (2008). Philippine architecture during the pre-Spanish and Spanish periods. UST Publishing House.
  3. 1 2 Galende, Pedro G. (1987). Angels in Stone: Architecture of Augustinian Churches in the Philippines. G. A. Formoso Publishing.
  4. 1 2 "ING PARROQUIA NING APALIT". November 1, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Historical Markers: Metropolitan Manila. National Historical Institute. 1993.


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