St. Joseph Church (Baras, Rizal)

St. Joseph Church (also known as Baras Church) is a Roman Catholic church located in Baras, Rizal, Philippines.

St. Joseph Church
Baras Church
14.5231°N 121.2673°E / 14.5231; 121.2673
LocationBaras, Rizal
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
Founder(s)Franciscan Missionaries headed by Fray Pedro Bautista
Architecture
Groundbreaking1682
Completed1686
Administration
ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Manila
DioceseDiocese of Antipolo
ProvinceRizal
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most Rev. Francisco M. de Leon, DD.
Auxiliary Bishop(s)Most Rev. Nolly C. Buco, JCD. DD.
Priest(s)Rev. Fr. Rodney B. Cruz

History

The first church was built in 1595 by Franciscan missionaries who established a parish at the town's old site in what is now Boso-Boso in Antipolo, with St. James as its patron.[1] The town and its church was transferred in 1636 to a site called Ibayo to escape the hostilities of the Aeta inhabitants in the area who burned the town and the church in 1635. The second site was located one and one-half leagues (about 7.24 kilometers) southeast of the first site. The church was dedicated to Christ the Savior but it also was affected by hostilities, this time when Chinese rebels in 1639 burned the church as well as other churches in neighboring towns.

The town was moved to its present site in 1682. On the same year, construction began on the present church.[2] It was completed in 1686, with the church now dedicated to St. Joseph as its patron. Renovations to the structure have been done in the 1960s and 2000s.

Architecture

Built in a mixture of fortress-style and barn-style Baroque architecture, the church is notable for its dark, simple, and sparse qualities that are typical of Franciscan mission churches built during the 16th century. Its simple facade is given a decorative touch mainly through the stream of balustrade trimming its triangular pediment, as well as the chequerboard pattern of brick and stone on the pediment’s upper portion, which indicates an addition to the original and much lower stone pediment.[3]

The interiors revealed the exposed wooden trusses that support the church's roofing, lacking a ceiling that is usually seen in churches. The structure has not been plastered, exposing the adobe bricks on which the church was made.

Church Dedication

The Solem dedication and Consecration of the Altar was solemnly officiated by Most Rev. Nolly C. Buco, JCD. DD., Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo on November 9, 2020 during the pontificate of Pope Francis, incumbency of Most Rev. Francisco M. de Leon, DD., Bishop of Antipolo and Rev. Fr. Rodney B. Cruz as Parish Priest.

  • interior
  • church altar
  • marker
  • church steps

References
  1. "History". Official Website of the Municipal Government of Baras, Rizal.
  2. Javellana, Rene (2010). La Casa de Dios: the legacy of Filipino hispanic churches in the Philippines. Ortigas Foundation, Inc.
  3. Galende, Pedro (2007). Philippine Church Facades. San Agustin Museum.
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