San Pedro Apostol Church (Apalit)

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.

Apalit Church
San Pedro Apostol Parish Church
Facade of the San Pedro Apostol Church in 2014
Apalit Church is located in Luzon
Apalit Church
Apalit Church
Apalit Church is located in Philippines
Apalit Church
Apalit Church
14°57′13″N 120°46′21″E
LocationApalit, Pampanga
Country Philippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusParish church
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleRenaissance Revival
Administration
ArchdioceseSan Fernando
Clergy
ArchbishopFlorentino Lavarias
Priest(s)Rev. Msgr. Antonio M. Bustos

History

In 1597, the Parish of Apalit was separated from the Parish of Calumpit. Fr. Pedro de Vergara was installed as the first curé of Apalit.

On June 28, 1844, the traditional fluvial procession called Libad honouring Saint Peter the Apostle was instituted by Capitán del Pueblo Don Pedro Armayan Espíritu.[1]

On July 22, 2017, the holy relic of St. Peter was enthroned in the parish. The holy relic is a fragment of the bones of the remains of St. Peter. This is the only church that has the relic of St. Peter other than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Architectural history

Fr. Juan Cabello
  • He began the construction of the church and convento from 1641 until 1645.[2]

Fr. Simón de Alarcia
  • From 1854 to 1860, he tried to build a three-nave church using stone and brick materials. However, records do not indicate if he was able to finish the church.[2]
  • 1863: the church is destroyed in an earthquake that damaged buildings in Manila.[2]

Fr. Antonio Redondo
  • Following the initial plans of Don Ramón Hermosa, an assistant officer to the Minister of Public Works, he laid the foundations of the new church in January 1876.[3]
  • The construction of the church was completed in 1883. It was reconsecrated during the town fiesta of that year.[3]

Fr. Toribio Fanjul
  • The two belltowers were completed in 1896.[1]

Msgr. Rústico C. Cuevas
  • 1989: Major renovations were conducted at the church.[1]

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 two 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 (Marcilino "Siling" Serrano), 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 six bells located at the Apalit Church, five of which came from Fundicion de Hilario Sunico Jaboneros.[4]

Below were the list of the bells with corresponding inscriptions:

Left northeastern towerWeight (in lb.)Inscription
Smallest bell1/2 lb.AÑO 1895-5 @ (ARROBAS)
Front, cracked3 lbs.SAGRADO CORAZON DE MARIA-SIENDO CURA PARROCO EL M.R.P. FR. TORIBIO FANJUL AÑO 1896 31
Second largest bell center stationary8 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 towerWeight (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, chipped10 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]
  • Cathedral interior
    Cathedral interior
  • Aisle
    Aisle
  • Looking to main altar
    Looking to main altar
  • View from main altar to front
    View from main altar to front
  • The dome
    The dome
  • Church ceiling detail
    Church ceiling detail
  • The pulpit
    The pulpit

References
  1. "Man-made Attraction, Apalit St. Peter Shrine". pampanga.gov.ph. November 1, 2014.
  2. Alarcon, Norma (2008). Philippine Architecture during the Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods. UST Publishing House.
  3. Galende, Pedro G. (1987). Angels in Stone: Architecture of Augustinian Churches in the Philippines. G. A. Formoso Publishing.
  4. "Ing Parroquia ning Apalit". oocities.org/pisamban. November 1, 2014.
  5. National Historical Institute (1993). Historical Markers: Metropolitan Manila. National Historical Institute.
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