Ecclesiastical or organizational status Parish Completed 1611 Affiliation Catholic Church | Status active Opened 1611 | |
Location Vinzons, Camarines Norte, Philippines Address Rizal St, Calauag, Quezon, Philippines Architectural style Romanesque Revival architecture Similar First José Rizal Monument, Saint Francis of Assisi Par, Hondagua railway station, Calaguas | ||
The St. Peter the Apostle Church, also known as the Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol, is a Roman Catholic church located in the municipality of Vinzons in Camarines Norte, Philippines. It is the oldest church in Camarines Norte built by the Franciscan friars in 1611. The current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Augusto Jesus B. Angeles III, appointed in 2013.
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History
A town named Tacboan was established by Franciscan priests in 1581. In 1611, Fr. Juan de Losar, OFM built a church named after Saint Peter. Fr. Losar was the first Parish Priest of the church. In 1624, the whole town of Tacboan was relocated and it was called Indan where a new church was built with the same Patron Saint, St. Peter the Apostle. In 1636, the missionaries established a church of Labo combining with Indan. In 1661, the Secular Clergy started administering the church.
After World War II, Indan was renamed as Vinzons in honor of Wenceslao Q. Vinzons; a former governor of the Camarines Norte, youngest delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935, and a guerrilla leader martyred by the Japanese during World War II.
In 1994, the left and right side of the church was repaired with the help of the town people. In 2011, the 400th foundation anniversary of Parish of St. Peter the Apostle including the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Daet and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Paracale was celebrated.
In December 26, 2012, the church was destroyed by a fire. According to its parish priest, Fr. Francisco Regala Jr., the historical artifacts of church were not saved. The Governor of Camarines Norte, Edgardo Tallado, said that the slow response of the Fire Marshall resulted to the destruction of the whole church except for the concrete walls.
Reconstruction
Thru the efforts of Fr. Augusto Jesus B. Angeles III the 400 year old limestone church will be restored in 15th Century setting. The flooring will be the same baldozas mosaicos or machuca tiles, specially baked featuring the same design. Wooden doors and benches made of yakal, featuring sculpted banyan tree leaves. The windows handcrafted and baked by Kraut Art Glass with modern and symmetrical design. Chandeliers and ceiling murals commissioned pro bono to our very own Hermes Alegre, with the best visual artists in the Philippines. These works were made possible by the generous donations of a few family in Vinzons such as the Altar with Italian granite flooring. The church's pulpit was also restored using the wooden materials which survived the fire that gutted it 3 years ago.
The church will be inaugurated on June 29, 2015. on the Feast of its Patron Saint, St. Peter the Apostle.
Features
The facade is plain and traditional, with a triangular pediment and a flat wall. There are no horizontal bands to separate the facade into storeys, though a steam of cornices separate the pediment from the wall. An arched main portal contrasts against the otherwise plain facade, its smoothness stark against the unplastered masonwork of the rest of the facade. The spacious central niche holds the town patron, surrounded by a florid frame. A square bell tower rises to the church's left. It tapers slightly and a peculiar layering indicates different types of masonry used in its construction. Its companile windows are protected with decorative balustrades and a squat spire is topped with a cross.