St. Catherine's Church, Carcar Explained

Carcar Church
Fullname:Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Other Name:Saint Catherine de Alexandria Parish Church
Pushpin Map:Metro Cebu#Philippines Cebu#Visayas#Philippines
Map Caption:Location in Metro Cebu##Location in Cebu##Location in the Visayas##Location in the Philippines
Coordinates:10.106°N 123.6403°W
Location:Carcar, Cebu
Country:Philippines
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Religious Order:-->
Former Names:-->
Dedication:Catherine of Alexandria
Heritage Designation:National Cultural Treasure
Architectural Type:Church building
Completed Date:1860s or 1870s
Bells Hung:-->
Parish:St. Catherine of Alexandria
Deanery:St. Catherine of Alexandria
Archdiocese:Cebu
Rector:Msgr. Jose Dosado Jr.[1]

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as St. Catherine's Church or the Carcar Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Carcar, Cebu, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

History

The settlement of Carcar in Cebu has been covered by a parish since 1599 which was run by the Augustinians.[2] The current Carcar Church was built in sometime in the 19th century. This is around the time when Cebu experienced an economic boom and became a major producer of agricultural goods.[2] The church was named after Carcar's patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria.

Architecture and design

The Carcar Church exhibits the form of a basilica. Its complex also host a separate building which is intended and used as a convent. It is built using coral stones with part of its structure, specifically its upper stories and ceiling made using hardwood. The structure is of mixed architecture style. Parts of the structure exhibit examples of Neo-Mudéjar, Revival Baroque, and Austrian Baroque architecture. Its wooden choir loft is of Gothic Revival character.[2] The church building is also described as having Greco-Roman and Muslim influence.[3] The convent building also has characteristics of the indigenous bahay na bato.[2]

The church's ceiling is decorated by Cebuano artist Canuto Avila which was commissioned by Fr. Anastasio Nuñez del Corro. The ceiling mural was executed from 1910s to the 1920s. The artwork is an example of trompe-l'œil with rosettes as motif rather than featuring a theological subject.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archdiocese of Cebu . July 8, 2024.
  2. Web site: Cañete . Ruben . St. Catherine's Church in Carcar, Cebu—a noble church on the hill . BluPrint . One Mega Group, Inc. . November 18, 2021 . April 2, 2020.
  3. News: Layug . Benjamin . A fill of Cebu's culture, cuisine and churches . November 18, 2021 . . October 4, 2017.