HERITAGE CHURCHES IN TAYABAS CITY

Tayabas City is not only home of the Spanish Colonial Bridges, it is also home of centuries-old stone churches, namely, the Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, the largest Catholic church in the entire province; Nuestra Señora de Angustias or commonly known as Ermita Church, built in 1838; the Sanctuario de las Almas built in 1855, a former cemetery and now a place for devotees of San Diego de Alcala; and Camposanto de los Indios, a cemetery built in 1887.

The cemetery was built in 1889 by father Samuel Muena and today it is called “kamposanto.” The cemetery has a gate composed of two stone column that carry a grill sign and the grilss have two design.The cemetery was closed when the barrio of Cota (now Lucena) became a town.

Birhen Dolorosa Church or also known as Ermita church. It is located in Tayabas City, Quezon and it is near the Basilica Minor of Saint Michael Archanghel church. Based on our research, there are two Ermita Churches in Tayabas, the two Ermita chapels are dedicated to Nuestar Senyora de las Angustias and to San Diego de Alcala. This Ermita church is also a Historical Church in Tayabas.

The Minor Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel, commonly known as the Catholic church.

Like most churches in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, the first church of Tayabas was a camarin-type church built using bamboo, nipa and anahaw betweeen 1580 and 1585 under the supervision of Franciscan friars.

The church was repaired under the supervision of Saint Pedro Bautista in 1590. In the same year the Catholic church obtains permission from the superior government to build the church using stone. Upon the order of Saint Pedro Bautista leader of the Franciscans, the church was rebuilt in 1600 using bricks but later on the church destroyed by the 1743 earthquake but the walls were left standing. Due to the growing number of Catholics in Tayabas, the church was again rebuilt and extended. It was further expanded under the term of Father Benito de la Pila between 1856 and 1866 with addition of the transept in the shape of routunda and copula. The brick tile roof was replaced with galvanized iron sheets in 1894. Tayabas Basilica is considered to be one of the beautiful church in the Philippines. Through Presidential Decree no. 374, the National Museum of the Philippines declared Tayabas Basilica as a National Cultural Treasure on July 31, 2001, along with 25 other churches in the Philippines.

Minor Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel is one of the biggest and most beautiful churches in the province of Quezon. The local people in Tayabas called it the “Susi ng Tayabas“ for its key shaped architecture, and of course for the Church clock that is found on the belfry. 

Sanctuario Delas Almas built in 1855, the church was called “Cementerio de los Españoles” during the Spanish period. A former cemetery and now a place for devotees of San Diego de Alcala.

Some of the research, this church was built by the Spaniards in the 18th century as a cemetery chapel. It is one of the many chapels built by Spaniards in the outskirts of bayan during the 17th and 18th century.More therefore that many Spaniards and Filipino were buried here. San Jose is currently the patron saint of Sanctuario de las Almas (Chapel of Soul). November 01-02 many people went here to visit the lost family and going this church for the mass for the soul of their love ones.