Guagua Church

Immaculate Conception Parish Church, commonly known as Guagua Church, is a 17th-century Baroque church located at Brgy. Plaza Burgos, Guagua, Pampanga, Philippines. Its is under the care of the Immaculate Conception parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando. In 1982, a historical marker bearing the brief history of the church was installed on the facade by the church by the National Historical Committee, precursor of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Guagua Church
Immaculate Conception Parish Church
Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Guagua (Spanish)
Guagua Church in 2014
Guagua Church Location in Luzon Guagua Church Location in the Philippines
14°57′52″N 120°38′2″E
Location	Plaza Burgos, Guagua, Pampanga
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Dedication	Immaculate Conception
Consecrated	1661
Architecture
Heritage designation	With marker from the National Historical Committee
Architect(s)	Fr. Jose Duque
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Baroque, Barn-style Baroque
Specifications
Length	60 metres (200 ft)
Width	16 metres (52 ft)
Height	12 metres (39 ft)
Materials	Sand, gravel, cement, mortar, steel and bricks
Administration
Province	Ecclesiastical Province of San Fernando
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando
Clergy
Archbishop	Most. Rev. Florentino G. Lavarias
Priest(s)	Rev. Fr. Adrian P. Paule

History

Church NHI historical marker installed in 1982

Historical records indicate that by May 17, 1590, the convent of Guagua has been established by the Augustinian Friars, with Father Bernardino de Quevedo and Father Juan de Zabala as resident priests. Its first titular patron is the Nativity of Our Lady. The construction of the present-day church structures would have been started in 1641, when the convent of Guagua was relieved of paying its rent to San Agustin Monastery in Manila. Such exemption from dues has been attributed to the monetary need of the parochial leaders in supervising the building of a parochial building. Father Jose Duque, a prolific church builder, was assigned parish priest of Guagua in 1661. The present church is attributed to him. Father Duque is said to have been influential in the pacification of Kapampangan rebels in 1660. Another notable figure in the history of the church of Guagua is Father Manuel Carrillo. Father Carrillo, during his term as parish priest around 1762, signed a loan covering some of the properties of the local convent for the renovations of the church. The current stone convent is attributed as one of his works. Several significant improvements in the church structure followed. In 1862, Father Antonio Bravo had the church interiors painted while in 1886, Father Paulino Fernandez installed the church dome. It was also during the late 19th century that Doña Carmen Macau had an organ installed in the church, an organ that was once dubbed as the best in Pampanga. In the 1990s, the stone convent was razed by fire.

Architecture

Main altarpiece by local artist Willy Layug

The present brick and stone church is Barn-style Baroque architecture, typically seen in many Spanish-era churches in the Philippines. The facade has two levels topped with a pediment bearing volutes that contrast with the slender columns. Specially notable about the embellishments on the facade are embossed shells found at the base of the pediment and plant motifs found in the retablo on the pediment. Attached to the right of the church is a 5-level octagonal bell tower. The church measures 60 metres (200 ft) long, 16 metres (52 ft) wide and 12 metres (39 ft) high and is built in a cruciform manner.

Gallery

• 
  Church interior in 2024
• 
  Plant embellishments found on the pediment
• 
  Details of the window and columns
• 
  Back view of the belfry
• 
  Wall composed of stone and bricks in alternating layers
• 
  Main door with prominent shell motifs
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  Marian emblem atop the main doorway
• 
  Niches found at the side wall
• 
  Holy water font
• 
  Side view of the belfry
• 
  Details of the window border
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  Finials capping the slender columns of the facade
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  Steel dome
• 
  Main bell or Campana Mayor

External links

• Media related to Guagua Church at Wikimedia Commons
• Guagua Church on Facebook