# Tumauini Church

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Roman Catholic church in Isabela, Philippines

Church in Isabela, Philippines

Tumauini Church Saint Matthias Parish Church Iglesia Parroquial de San Matías (Spanish) Church façade and bell tower in 2017 Tumauini Church Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Tumauini Church Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines 17°16′31″N 121°48′26″E / 17.275395°N 121.807124°E / 17.275395; 121.807124 Location Tumauini, Isabela Country Philippines Denomination Roman Catholic History Status Parish church Founded 1707 Founder(s) Francisco Nuñez, O.P Dedication Saint Matthias Architecture Functional status Active Heritage designation National Cultural Treasure Architect Fr. Domingo Forto Architectural type Church building Style Baroque Groundbreaking 1783 Completed 1805 Administration Province Isabela Archdiocese Tuguegarao Diocese Ilagan Clergy Archbishop Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg, D.D Bishop Most Rev. David William V. Antonio, D.D. Priest(s) Very Rev. Gregorio Marvic C. Uanan, JCD, JV

**Saint Matthias Parish Church**, commonly known as **Tumauini Church**, is a [Roman Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [church](/source/Church_building) in the municipality of [Tumauini, Isabela](/source/Tumauini%2C_Isabela), Philippines, within the jurisdiction of the [Diocese of Ilagan](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Ilagan). It became a separate [parish](/source/Parish) independent from [Cabagan](/source/Cabagan%2C_Isabela) under the advocacy of [Saint Matthias](/source/Saint_Matthias) in 1751.

The church, known for its brick, [Baroque-style architecture](/source/Baroque_architecture), was declared a [National Cultural Treasure](/source/List_of_National_Cultural_Treasures_in_the_Philippines) by the [National Museum of the Philippines](/source/National_Museum_of_the_Philippines). Together with the churches of [Boljoon](/source/Boljoon%2C_Cebu), [Guiuan](/source/Guiuan%2C_Eastern_Samar), [Loboc](/source/Loboc%2C_Bohol) and [Lazi](/source/Lazi%2C_Siquijor), the Tumauini Church has been considered for the [UNESCO](/source/UNESCO) [World Heritage](/source/World_Heritage) Tentative List since 2006 under the collective group of [Baroque Churches of the Philippines](/source/Baroque_Churches_of_the_Philippines) (Extension).

## History

Church interior in 2022

The first church made of [nipa](/source/Nypa_fruticans) and other light materials was built by the [Dominican](/source/Order_of_Preachers) priest Francisco Nuñez in 1707, and dedicated to [Saint Matthias](/source/Saint_Matthias).[1][2] Tumauini became an independent parish from [Cabagan](/source/Cabagan%2C_Isabela) in 1751.[1] The current church was built under the auspices of another Dominican, Domingo Forto, in 1783 and later continued by the priest Antonio Herrera in 1788.[3] In constructing the church, Forto hired artisans from as far south as [Pampanga](/source/Pampanga).[3] It was completed in 1805.[1]

The church was damaged during the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War); a faithful reconstruction program followed, with undamaged parts of the church building retained.[4]

## Features

Tumauini is an ultra-baroque church known for its extensive use of red bricks on its exterior and interior ornamentations.[3] Brick was used due to lack of good quality stones in the area.[5]

### Façade

The church's main [portal](/source/Portal_(architecture))

The church building is made entirely of ornately designed red bricks in its façade and its interior walls.[4] A closer look at the brick façade shows numbers and dates for the correct sequence of the bricks in Forto's design.[3] The façade is flanked by two pseudo-[Corinthian](/source/Corinthian_order) columns and [niches](/source/Niche_(architecture)), one located above the entrance and the two remaining larger niches on each side of the columns.[3] The church's circular [pediment](/source/Pediment) is unique relative to all other churches built during the [Spanish Era](/source/History_of_the_Philippines_(1521%E2%80%931898)).[3]

### Belfry

Attached to the church's façade is a unique cylindrical [belfry](/source/Belfry_(architecture)) built in 1805.[4][6] It is the only known Spanish colonial era cylindrical tower in the country.[7] The tiered belfry notably resembles a [wedding cake](/source/Wedding_cake).[8][9]

The bell housed within has bullet holes but was never recast.[10]

### *Convento*

The ruins of the church's *convento* ([clergy house](/source/Clergy_house)) are located on the [gospel side](/source/Gospel_side) of the church.[4]

## Historical and cultural declarations

Church [NHI](/source/National_Historical_Commission_of_the_Philippines) historical marker installed in 1989

Tumauini Church was declared a [National Cultural Treasure](/source/List_of_National_Cultural_Treasures_in_the_Philippines) by the [National Museum of the Philippines](/source/National_Museum_of_the_Philippines). The [National Historical Commission of the Philippines](/source/National_Historical_Commission_of_the_Philippines) declared Tumauini Church a National Historic Landmark on February 24, 1989.[2]

It is also being considered for addition to the [UNESCO](/source/UNESCO) [World Heritage Sites](/source/World_Heritage) of the Philippines under the [Baroque Churches of the Philippines](/source/Baroque_Churches_of_the_Philippines) (Extension) with the churches of [Patrocinio de María](/source/Boljoon_Church) in [Boljoon](/source/Boljoon%2C_Cebu), [Cebu](/source/Cebu_(province)); [La Inmaculada Concepción](/source/Guiuan_Church) in [Guiuan](/source/Guiuan%2C_Eastern_Samar), [Samar](/source/Eastern_Samar); [San Pedro Ápostol](/source/Loboc_Church) in [Loboc](/source/Loboc%2C_Bohol), [Bohol](/source/Bohol); and [San Isidro Labrador](/source/Lazi_Church) in [Lazi](/source/Lazi%2C_Siquijor), [Siquijor](/source/Siquijor).[4]

## Notes

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nhcp_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nhcp_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nhcp_1-2) [National Historical Institute 1993](#CITEREFNational_Historical_Institute1993), p. 176

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_2-1) Mangubat, Kaye (September 20, 2012). ["Five unique churches in the Philippines"](https://ph.news.yahoo.com/five-unique-churches-philippines-082825910.html). *Yahoo News Philippines*. loQal.ph. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120922114739/http://ph.news.yahoo.com/five-unique-churches-philippines-082825910.html) from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:1_3-5) Gaspar, Roger (1996). ["Flowers in Brick: The Tumauini Church in Isabela"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090801045947/http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui.html). Archived from [the original](http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui.html) on August 1, 2009. Retrieved October 9, 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_4-4) ["Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension)"](https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/3860/). UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved October 9, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Lim-Castillo 2007](#CITEREFLim-Castillo2007), p. 117

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Villalon, Augusto. ["Significant Examples of Church Architecture in the Philippines"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141014235755/http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=2&i=201). National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from [the original](http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=2&i=201) on October 14, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Ortiguero, Romsanne (March 17, 2013). ["Why visit Isabela this summer? 10 great reasons to check out the Queen Province of the Philippines"](http://www.interaksyon.com/lifestyle/why-visit-isabela-this-summer-10-great-reasons-to-check-out-the-queen-province-of-the-philippines). *[Interaksyon](/source/Interaksyon)*. Retrieved September 11, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Alba, Reinerio (September 29, 2003). ["The Restoration of 26 Philippine Churches"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140903081258/http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=17). National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from [the original](http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=17) on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Enriquez, Marge (April 10, 2011). ["Edifices of a people's faith"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141023173450/http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/sundaylifestyle/sundaylifestyle/view/20110410-330283/Edifices-of-a-peoples-faith). *[Philippine Daily Inquirer](/source/Philippine_Daily_Inquirer)*. Archived from [the original](http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/sundaylifestyle/sundaylifestyle/view/20110410-330283/Edifices-of-a-peoples-faith) on October 23, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Jose, Regalado Trota. ["What to do with an Old Church (or Mosque or House)?"](http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=2&i=287). National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved October 9, 2014.

## Bibliography

- Lim-Castillo, Pia (2007). "Eggs in Philippine Church Architecture and its Cuisine". In Hosking, Richard (ed.). [*Eggs in Cookery: Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium of Food and Cookery 2006*](https://books.google.com/books?id=cfP6jHmSLnMC&pg=PT117). Oxford Symposium. p. 117. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781903018545](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781903018545).

- [*Historical Markers: Regions I–IV and CAR*](https://books.google.com/books?id=AvBuAAAAMAAJ). Manila: National Historical Institute (Philippines). 1993. p. 176. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9715380611](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9715380611).

## External links

- Media related to [Tumauini Church](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tumauini_Church) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Tumauini Church](https://www.facebook.com/CatholicTumauini) on [Facebook](/source/Facebook_(identifier))

v t e Diocese of Ilagan Dioecesis Ilaganensis Territories Isabela Ordinaries Francisco Cruces Miguel Purugganan Sergio Utleg Joseph Nacua David William Antonio Cathedral Saint Michael the Archangel Saint Ferdinand Co-Cathedral (Ilagan) Shrines National Our Lady of the Visitation (Gamu) Diocesan St. Anthony of Padua (Reina Mercedes, Isabela) St. Joseph the Worker (Echague) Parishes Vicariate of Our Lady of the Visitation Saint Michael the Archangel St. Ferdinand (Ilagan) Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel (Ilagan) San Antonio De Padua (Ilagan) St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Ilagan) Our Lady of the Visitation (Gamu) St. Joseph the Spouse (Naguilian, Isabela) St. Rose of Lima (Gamu) Our Lady of Peace (Benito Soliven) St. Thomas Aquinas (San Mariano, Isabela) San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Chapel (Gamu) Our Lady of the Abandoned Mission Station (Divilacan) St. Joseph the Worker (Maconacon) St. John the Baptist Mission (Dinapigue) Vicariate of Immaculate Conception St. Paul the Apostle (San Pablo, Isabela) St. Paul the Apostle (Cabagan) Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Sta. Maria, Isabela) St. Matthias (Tumauini) St. Joseph the Spouse (Delfin Albano) St. Clare of Assisi (Sto. Tomas, Isabela) Vicariate of Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes (San Manuel, Isabela) St. Isidore the Farmer (Aurora, Isabela) Our Lady of La Salette (Roxas) St. Joseph the Worker (Mallig) St. John Bosco (Quezon, Isabela) St. John the Evangelist (Quirino, Isabela) San Lorenzo Ruiz (Burgos, Isabela) Vicariate of Our Lady of the Pillar St. Anthony of Padua (Reina Mercedes, Isabela) Our Lady of the Pillar (Cauayan, Isabela) St. Louis the King (Cauayan, Isabela) Our Lady of Atocha (Alicia, Isabela) St. Vincent Ferrer (Angadanan) St. William the Hermit (San Guillermo, Isabela) Our Lady of the Visitation (Luna, Isabela) St. Andrew the Apostle (Cabatuan, Isabela) St. Mary Magdalene (Palanan) Vicariate of Our Lady of the Rosary Sto. Niño De Praga (Cordon, Isabela) St. James the Apostle (Santiago, Isabela) St. Matthew (San Mateo, Isabela) San Roque (Ramon, Isabela) St. Joseph the Worker (Echague) San Isidro de Labrador (San Isidro, Isabela) Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Jones, Isabela) St. Francis de Assisi (Santiago, Isabela) St. Augustine (San Agustin, Isabela) Ecclesiastical Province of Tuguegarao Catholicism portal Philippines portal

v t e World Heritage Sites in the Philippines Cultural Baroque Churches of the Philippines (San Agustin, Paoay, Santa Maria, Miagao) Historic City of Vigan Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Batad, Bangaan, Hungduan, Mayoyao Central, Nagacadan) Natural Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Tubbataha Reef

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tumauini Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumauini_Church) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumauini_Church?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.