St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church (General Trias)

The St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church, commonly known as the General Trias Church, is the first Catholic parish church of the municipality of General Trias in Cavite province in the Philippines. Typical of towns established during the Spanish colonial period, the church is located at the plaza (town square) of General Trias, which was formerly called San Francisco de Malabon in honor of its patron saint, Saint Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church
The facade of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church in General Trias, Cavite
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Archdiocese of Manila
Region	Calabarzon
Rite	Latin Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Parish church
Leadership	Rev. Fr. Oliver Genuino[1]
Year consecrated	1770s and 1991
Status	Active
Location
Location	Philippines
Municipality	General Trias, Cavite
Location in the Philippines
Territory	Diocese of Imus
Geographic coordinates	14.3855°N 120.8801°E
Architecture
Type	Church with attached convent
Style	Earthquake Baroque
Founder	Franciscans (1611)
Funded by	Doña Maria Josepha de Yrizzari Y Ursula
Groundbreaking	1769
Specifications
Direction of façade	North
Length	180 feet (55 m)[2]
Width	80 feet (24 m)
Width (nave)	60 feet (18 m)
Dome(s)	None
Spire(s)	One
Materials	Stone

History

The first church in General Trias was established by the Franciscans when it was still a visita (sub-parish) of Cavite Viejo (now Kawit). It was transferred to the Jesuit order of Cavite Puerto (now Cavite City) in 1624, eventually becoming a separate parish on September 9, 1753.[3]

The first stone church was erected in 1769 under the leadership of Doña Maria Josepha de Yrizzari Y Ursula, Countess of Lizarraga. It was restored and enlarged in 1834. The Luzon earthquakes of 1880 partially damaged the church. As a result, the facade was replaced in 1881 with further restoration in 1885. The roof tiles were replaced in 1892 with the lighter, corrugated galvanised iron roofing as further protection from earthquakes. It was again refurbished and enlarged in 1893.[3]

Between 1989-1991, the church was restored to its former looks. After completion, it was again consecrated on June 22, 1991, by Most Reverend Felix P. Perez of the Diocese of Imus in which it lies.[3]

Convent building

The church convent where the Banda San Francisco de Malabon rehearsed for the first performance of the National Anthem of the Philippines.

Attached to the church is the convent. It is where the Banda San Francisco de Malabon, a local marching band, practiced the music of the Philippine national anthem Marcha Filipina before performing it during the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite.[4] The convent now houses the Museo de San Francisco de Malabon.

Historical marker

The St. Francis of Assisi Church was declared a historic structure by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines) with the placing of a marker in 1992.[3]

References

1. (2019-07-16). "Catholic Mass Schedule at St. Francis of Assisi Parish". Philippine Mass Schedule. Retrieved on 2019-07-16
2. Measured using Google Earth.
3. "Simbahan ng Heneral Trias". Blogspot. Retrieved on 2013-06-25.
4. Simply Gladze (2012-10-23). "St. Francis of the Assisi Church - Gen. Trias, Cavite". Travels and History. Retrieved on 2013-06-25.