The Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as St. Catherine's Church or Carcar Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Carcar, Cebu, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Cebu.
| Carcar Church | |
|---|---|
| Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria | |
| Saint Catherine de Alexandria Parish Church | |
Parroquia de Santa Catalina de Alejandria (Spanish) | |
 Church facade in 2024 | |
  Carcar Church Location in Metro Cebu .svg) Carcar Church Location in Cebu .svg) Carcar Church Location in the Visayas .svg) Carcar Church Location in the Philippines | |
| 10°06′21″N 123°38′25″E / 10.10597°N 123.64034°E | |
| Location | Carcar, Cebu |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Catherine of Alexandria |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | National Cultural Treasure |
| Designated | June 27, 2019 |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Completed | 1860s or 1870s[a] |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Cebu |
| Deanery | St. Catherine of Alexandria |
| Parish | St. Catherine of Alexandria |
| Clergy | |
| Rector | Msgr. Jose Dosado Jr.[4] |
| Designated | June 27, 2019 |
| Region | Central Visayas |
| Marker Date | November 25, 2023 |
History
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The settlement of Carcar in Cebu has been covered by a parish since 1599 which was run by the Augustinians.[1] The current Carcar Church was built in sometime in the 19th century.[a] This is around the time when Cebu experienced an economic boom and became a major producer of agricultural goods.[1] The church was named after Carcar's patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria.[2]
Architecture and design
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The Carcar Church exhibits the form of a basilica. Its complex also host a separate building which is intended and used as a convent. It is built using coral stones with part of its structure, specifically its upper stories and ceiling made using hardwood. The structure is of mixed architecture style. Parts of the structure exhibit examples of Neo-Mudéjar, Revival Baroque, and Austrian Baroque architecture. Its wooden choir loft is of Gothic Revival character.[1] The church building is also described as having Greco-Roman and Muslim influence.[3][5] The convent building also has characteristics of the indigenous bahay na bato.[1]
The church's ceiling is decorated by Cebuano artist Canuto Avila which was commissioned by Fr. Anastasio Nuñez del Corro. The ceiling mural was executed from 1910s to the 1920s. The artwork is an example of trompe-l'œil with rosettes as motif rather than featuring a theological subject.[1]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f Cañete, Ruben (April 2, 2020). "St. Catherine's Church in Carcar, Cebu—a noble church on the hill". BluPrint. One Mega Group, Inc. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Carcar Church, Cebu". UHM Center for Philippine Studies. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Savillo, Dianne Zarina G. (April 10, 2020). "Of Semana Santa and churches in southern Cebu". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Archdiocese of Cebu". Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Layug, Benjamin (October 4, 2017). "A fill of Cebu's culture, cuisine and churches". BusinessMirror. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
External links
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Media related to Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church (Carcar) at Wikimedia Commons- St. Catherine's Church, Carcar on Facebook
