The Immaculate Conception Parish Church
Other Pictures of the Gallery:
The Church of Tanay:
The Church of Tanay / San Ildefonso Church
About the Church: For 38 years or so, the people of Tanay suffered their church to be made of bamboo and cogon grass for roofing. But in 1678 at their insistence, Fr. Pedro de Espallargas initiated the building of a stone church like the one in Pililla which was built in 1673 and is still in use. This first stone church in Tanay faced east, occupying a large part of what is now Tanay Park. This was completed in 1680 largely through the donations by the people so deeply devoted to the Purisima Concepcion and the first mass was celebrated on April 20, 1680.
The present church was started in 1773 through the initiative of Fr. Alonso de Fentanes and the people of Tanay because the old church which was completed in 1680 was already greatly damaged due to natural calamities such as typhoons and strong earthquakes. It was completed in 1783 while the 6 retablos in honor of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, of La Purisima Concepcion, of San Josef, of San Pedro de Alcantara, of the Baptism of our Lord and of San Ildefonso de Toledo, more popularly called the retablo mayor were finished in 1785 and installed the following year, 1786.
The 14 Stations of the Cross inside our church has an anomaly that can hardly be missed, The first twelve bear marks and features revealing the Malayan or native characteristics incorporated such as the somewhat squat appearance of the figures, including Jesus, the use of “Tambuli” made from carabao horn and of the “tabak” or native bolo instead of the usual Roman sword, while the last two bears features that are unmistakably Caucasian. Although the construction of the Stations of the Cross were not recorded in the books of the church, it is widely believed that the first twelve were done by a native artist of Tanay. Another anomaly is usually noticed in the 7 th station by visitors where Caiaphas, the High Priest wears a sunglass. All told, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful Stations of the Cross in all of Asia.
The Church was declared a National Cultural Heritage on July 31, 2001 by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts along with 25 other churches all over the Philippines. (Sourced from Wikipedia.Com)
My Thoughts on the Church: The Church of Tanay is a Beautiful Old Church. It boasts of Antique Retablos and Antique Stations of the Cross.
Other Blogs & Sites to Visit: Traveler on Foot, Now Im Ready, Earth Tanay
Links to Other Picture of the Church: Pride of Tanay FaceBook Pictures
Articles About the Church: A Centuries Old Church is Tanay’s Treasure by Marjorie Gorospe
Other Pictures of the Church:
Pinoy Churches 