{{Short description|Roman Catholic church in Ilocos Norte, Philippines}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox church | name = Bacarra Church | full_name = Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish Church | native_name = {{native name|es|Iglesia Parroquial de San Andrés Apóstol}} | other_name = San Andres Apostol Parish Church | image = Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish Bacarra (Rizal Boulevard, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte; 11-17-2022).jpg | image_size = | imagelink = | alt = | caption = Church facade in 2022 | pushpin_map = Luzon mainland#Philippines | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_mapsize = | map_caption = Location in Luzon##Location in the Philippines
| coordinates = {{coord|18.250495|N|120.611788|E|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}} | location = M. Castro Street, Brgy. Sta. Rita, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte | country = Philippines | denomination = Roman Catholic | website = | former_name = | founded = | founder = | dedication = Saint Andrew the Apostle | dedicated = | consecrated = | events = | status = Parish church | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = National Cultural Treasure | designated = {{start date and age|1973|8|1}} {{small|(thru [https://philhistoricsites.nhcp.gov.ph/registry_database/church-of-bacarra PD No. 260, s. 1973])}}<ref name=PD260>{{cite PH act|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/08/01/presidential-decree-no-260-s-1973|title=Declaring the Sta. Ana Site Museum in Manila, the Roman Catholic Churches of Paoay and Bacarra in Ilocos Norte, the San Agustin Church and Liturgical Objects Therein in Intramuros, Manila, Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City, the Petroglyphs of the Rock-shelter in Angono, Rizal, the Petroglyphs of Alab, Bontoc, the Stone Agricultural Calendars of Dap-ay Guiday in Besao, Bontoc, the Mummy Caves of Kabayan, Benguet and of Sagada and Alab, Bontoc, the Ifugao Rice Terraces of Banaue as National Cultural Treasures; and the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, Tirad Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, the Miagao Church in Miagao, Iloilo, the Site of the Battle of Mactan on Mactan Island, Cebu, the San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila, and the Church and Convent of Santo Niño in Cebu City as National Shrines, Monuments, and/ or Landmarks, Defining the Implementing Agencies and Providing Funds Therefor|chamber=PD|number=260|date=1973-08-01|publisher=The Official Gazette|accessdate=2024-09-14}}</ref> | architect = | architectural_type = | style = Church building | groundbreaking = | completed = {{start date and age|1593}}<ref name=gov>{{cite web |url=http://www.bacarra.gov.ph/?m=20090404&print=pdf-page|title=Tourist Attractions in Bacarra|year=2010|publisher=bacarra.gov.ph|access-date=October 26, 2014}}</ref> | construction_cost = | closed = | demolished = | capacity = | materials = | parish = | deanery = | archdeaconry = | archdiocese = Nueva Segovia | metropolis = | diocese = Laoag | province = Nueva Segovia | district = | division = | archbishop = Marlo Mendoza Peralta | bishop = Renato P. Mayugba | dean = | rector = | vicar = | priest = }}
'''Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish''', commonly known as '''Bacarra Church''', is a Roman Catholic church located in the municipality of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It falls under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Laoag.
Founded in 1593 by Augustinian friars, the church was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. Its key feature is its domeless, leaning bell tower located just meters from the church.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 11, 2018 |title=NHCP to restore historic Paoay Church, Bacarra Tower in Ilocos |work=PTV News |url=https://ptvnews.ph/nhcp-to-restore-historic-paoay-church-bacarra-tower-in-ilocos/ |access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref>
== History == thumb|left|Church interior in 2022
The Augustinians founded the town of Bacarra on September 18, 1590, and began their missionary activity on land owned by a chieftain the Spaniards named Castillo and a certain Andres Hermosa.<ref name="Gal2007">{{harvnb|Galende|2007|p=30}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://inorte.org/?page_id=429|title = Bacarra|access-date = September 11, 2014|website = Official Website of Ilocos Norte|publisher = Local Government Unit of Ilocos Norte|ref = BacInorte}}</ref> Baccara was established as a mission center for the Apayaos.<ref name="Gal2007" /> The Augustinian mission was run by two priests serving a population of 4,000.<ref name=":0"/> The church and an adjoining convent were established in 1593<ref name=gov/> on the site where an Igorot named ''Bacsalandoc'', first settler of the town and chieftain, had erected his hut.<ref name=":0" /> The church site is now located in the center of town.<ref name=mun/>
The town became a ''visita'' of Laoag in 1603 and an independent parish in 1614.<ref name=":0" /> In 1782 a new church on the site was inaugurated by the Augustinians.<ref name=gov/><ref name=mun>{{cite web |url=http://municipalityofbacarra.weebly.com/bacarra-church-and-convent.html|title=Bacarra Church and Convent|publisher=Municipality of Bacarra|access-date=October 26, 2014}}</ref>
In 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos declared the church to be a National Cultural Treasure through Presidential Decree No. 260.<ref name=PD260/>
== Features ==
=== Bell tower === [[File:Bacarra Church Bell Tower.jpg|thumb|left|The domeless bell tower of Bacarra]]
The Bacarra church is famous for its centuries-old, domeless or "beheaded" belfry known as ''Torre ti Bacarra''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.ilocossentinel.com/story/bacarra-museum-new-oasis-of-religious-cultural-artifacts-mysterious-underground-garden-near-beheaded-belfry-ruins.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141027065838/http://www.ilocossentinel.com/story/bacarra-museum-new-oasis-of-religious-cultural-artifacts-mysterious-underground-garden-near-beheaded-belfry-ruins.html|url-status = usurped|archive-date = October 27, 2014|title = Bacarra Museum: New Oasis of Religious, Cultural Artifacts, Mysterious Underground Garden Near 'Beheaded' Belfry Ruins|date = November 20, 2012|access-date = October 27, 2014|publisher = Ilocos Sentinel|last = Arzadon|first = Christina}}</ref> The structure stands three stories and {{convert|50|m}} high.{{sfn|Coseteng|1972|p=73}} The original bell tower, which is detached from the main church building and made of coral bricks, was erected in 1828.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/310819/museum-hopes-to-put-ilocos-town-on-tourism-map|title = Museum hopes to put Ilocos town on tourism map|date = November 21, 2012|access-date = September 11, 2014|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last = Arzadon|first = Christina}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|title = Colonial Churches of Ilocos|last = Legarda|first = Benita|date = 1960|journal = Philippine Studies|issue = 1|volume = 8|pages = 121–158|publisher = Ateneo de Manila University}}</ref> However, periodic earthquakes from 1931 to 1971 caused the dome to start leaning.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The entire dome was toppled by the 1983 Luzon earthquake.<ref name=gov/> Restoration of the church was completed in 1984 at a cost of ₱3 million.<ref name=gov/>
The tower is also known as the "Acrobatic Bell Tower of Bacarra".<ref>{{harvnb|Esguerra|2012|p=228}}</ref>
Restoration works by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on the tower were announced in 2018, and the restored tower was turned over to the Diocese of Laoag in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tabios |first=Hanah |date=November 19, 2020 |title=NHCP Delivers Restored Heritage Icons to Ilocos Norte |work=Manila Bulletin |url=https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/19/nhcp-delivers-restored-heritage-icons-to-ilocos-norte/ |access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref>
=== Church museum === The church museum, known as ''Museo de Bacarra'', is housed in the former church convent. The two-story restored convent, which dates to the Spanish colonial era, features religious artifacts from archival photos and documents and church relics and cultural artifacts mostly contributed by the people of Bacarra.<ref name=":1" /> A mysterious underground staircase leading to three tunnels – believed to be connected to the Bacarra river, the church tower, and the altar – was uncovered at the back of the old convent.<ref name=":1" />
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== Notes == {{reflist}}
== Bibliography == {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dokFAAAAMAAJ&q=three+stories+50+meters|title=Spanish Churches in the Philippines|first=Alice M. L. |last=Coseteng|year=1972|publisher=UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines}} *{{Cite book|title = Philippine Church Façades|last = Galende|first = Pedro|publisher = San Agustin Museum|year = 2007|isbn = 9789710724338|location = Manila|url = https://books.google.com/books?isbn=9710724339 }} *{{Cite book|title = The Borough of Licab|last = Esguerra|first = George|publisher = Trafford Publishing|year = 2012|isbn = 9781426955990|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nHgXtkN_aysC}} {{refend}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Facebook|SAAPBacarra}}
{{National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines|state=collapsed}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag}}
Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Ilocos Norte Category:National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines Category:Baroque church buildings in the Philippines Category:National Historical Landmarks of the Philippines Category:Churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag