Country Philippines Functional status Active Completed 1738 Architectural style Baroque architecture Archbishop Ramon Arguelles | Denomination Roman Catholic Architectural type Church building Opened 1738 Dedication Louis of Toulouse | |
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Address A. Racelis Ave, Lucban, 4301 Quezon, Philippines Similar Kamay Ni Hesus, Tayabas Basilica, Saint Francis of Assisi Par, Mount Banahaw, San Bartolome Apostol P | ||
The San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish Church (also Saint Louis of Toulouse Parish Church), commonly known as the Lucban Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Lucban, Quezon, Philippines under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lucena. Its titular is Saint Louis of Toulouse.
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History
Franciscan priests Father Juán Portocarrero de Plasencia and Father Diego de Oropesa de San José, known as the Apostles of Laguna and Tayabas, established the visita of Lucban in 1578 and started evangelizing the people of the town. It was elevated as a parish in 1595 under Father Miguel de Talavera alongside the construction of its first church made of wood, dedicated to Saint Louis of Toulouse.
The first church was ruined in 1629 and a second church was established on the present site. Construction of the second church, made of stone, masonry, and nipa, proceeded from 1630 to 1640 and the convent was finished in 1650. Church roofing was changed to tiles in 1683 under the supervision of Father Francisco Huerta.
Fire destroyed the building in 1733. That same year, Father Pascual Martinez began construction of a third building, the present one, which was completed in 1738. The rebuilt convent was completed in 1743. On April 4, 1945, the day American soldiers liberated Lucban during World War II, the church was partially damaged by a bomb. It was immediately reconstructed under the supervision of Monsignor Antonio Radovan.
In July 2014 Typhoon Glenda destroyed the roof over the altar, causing flooding inside the church.
Features
The church follows the baroque design. It has a three-storey facade. The second level features semi-circular windows flanked by Corinthian columns and niches containing statues of saints. The church also has an octagonal, three-story belltower standing on a square base.
Pahiyas Festival
A 6:00 AM mass at the church marks the start of the colorful Pahiyas Festival every May 15; at 7:00 AM a procession leaves the church carrying the images of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza on a route around the town.