San Nicolas de Tolentino Church, also known as Guimbal Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in the town of Guimbal, Iloilo, Philippines. Its patron is St. Nicholas of Tolentino.
Table of Contents
History
In historical record, around 1575, Guimbal Church was a visita of Oton and then of Tigbauan. In the next following centuries, its status was subject to change from an independent parish to a visita and back. In 1580, it ceded from Tigbauan as a separate parish and the Augustinians built a convent in 1590.
Fr. Martin de Nicolas was its vicar in 1617, but it was annexed again in 1618 under the administration of the secular clergy.
In 1626, the Augustinians took over the parish while the diocese was given the town of Ajuy. The diocese declined the offer of placing it under their administration in 1630.
In 1656, it was once again a visita of Tigbauan. Three years later it gained back its independence only to be assigned to Tigbauan in 1667 and later to Miagao in 1703.
The town of Guimbal was founded by Fr. Blas Urbina in 1703, its first mayor was Bernardino Ancan. Its territory diminished upon the creation of the towns of Igbaras (1919) and Tubungan (1938).
Guimbal Church used to be a Marian Church with Nuestra Señora de Consolacion (Our Lady of Consolation) as patroness. In 1704, St. Nicholas de Tolentino was enthroned as the new church patron. The construction of the church and convent began within the term of Fr. Juan Campos between 1769 and 1774.
The church was ruined due to an earthquake that struck on July 13, 1787, and reconstructions were carried out by Fr. Jose Orangren from 1893 to 1896. The church caught fire in 1895 and was restored by Fr. Agustin Llorente. It sustained damages during the war and earthquake in 1948; the convent did not survive the 1948 earthquake.
Architecture
San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Guimbal is made of coral stone and yellow sandstone quarried from Guimaras. The bell tower is connected at its base to the church’s facade in the epistle side.
It is pierced with arch apertures and starting from the roof, its corners are chamfered. Its uppermost level is hexagonal with triangular windows and blind dormer. Its continues to the domed roof as one body, which rises to a cupola and a cross.
The slopes of the broken pediment curves inwardly, and in what would have been its apex is a rectilinear cornice upon which stand a pair of finials, a stone dome topped with a cupola and a cross. On the pediment are two paired Corinthian attached columns, and in between them is an arch window of stained glass.
These decorative columns are found elsewhere in the facade, such as the pairs that are flanking the archway of the main entrance and outermost posts of the church wall. One can see a row of rosettes in high relief in the cornice and on the semicircle of the archway. In the ground level beside the entrance, there are also two niches of holy figures.
In its interior, the narthex is separated from the nave by an archway. Its ceiling also features rafters, and the nave walls are pierced with arch apertures.
Celebration
The patronal feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino is held every September 10.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Guimbal, Iloilo from November 18, 2024 to November 24, 2024. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Guimbal.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM
- 8:00-9:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Guimbal, Iloilo |
| Other Names | Guimbal Church |
| Address | Gimeno St, Guimbal, Iloilo 5022 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (033) 323 2558 |
| guimbalparish@gmail.com | |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. John |
| Patron | St. Nicholas of Tolentino |
| Feast day | September 10 |
| Architecture | |
| Builder | Fr. Juan Campos |
Nearby Churches
- Parish of Immaculate Conception in Oton, Iloilo
- San Juan de Sahagun Church in Tigbauan, Iloilo
- San Lorenzo Ruiz Church in Dapdap, Tigbauan, Iloilo
- San Pedro Calungsod Church in Cordova Sur, Tigbauan, Iloilo
- St. Anthony Abbot Church in Tubungan, Iloilo
- St. John the Baptist Church in Igbaras, Iloilo
- Sta. Monica Church in Santa Monica, Oton, Iloilo
References
- Guimbal. Provincial Government of Iloilo. Retrieved October 26, 2022
- Municipality of Guimbal. Oocities. Retrieved October 26, 2022
- Paul Dumol, PhD, Grace Concepcion, PhD, and E.J. Ofilada (August 15, 2020). Research Update: Foundation Dates for “The Pueblos of Panay”. Center for Research and Communication. Retrieved October 26, 2022
- Marin, Bombette G. Guimbal: Modern Amenities and Classic Historic Charm. Daily Guardian. August 16, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2022
- Baroque Churches of the Philippines. World Heritage Convetion: UNESCO. Retrieved October 26, 2022
- Niño B. Maldecir. Beating Historical Rhythms. The Dolphin Magazine Volume 59 No. 1 October 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2022