Orion Church

The San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church, commonly referred to as Orion Church, is a 19th-century, Baroque church located at Brgy. San Vicente, Orion, Bataan, Philippines. The parish church, dedicated to Saint Michael, the Archangel, is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga. A marker bearing the brief history of the structure has been installed in its façade by the National Historical Committee, precursor of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Orion Church
San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church
Facade of the Saint Michael Parish Church in Orion, Bataan
Orion Church
Republic of the Philippines
14°37′18″N 120°34′35″E
LocationBataan
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusParish church
Founded1667
Founder(s)Father Jose Campomares, OP
DedicationSaint Michael the Arcangel
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleBaroque
CompletedAfter 1852
Specifications
MaterialsBrick, Sand, Stone, Gravel, Cement, Steel, Concrete
Administration
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Balanga
Clergy
ArchbishopFlorentino Lavarias
Bishop(s)Ruperto Santos
Priest(s)Fr. Percival V. Medina

Parish and Architectural History

Orion was established by the Dominican Priests on April 30, 1667. The present-day 19th-century church was built by Father Jose Campomanes, OP after an earthquake in 1852 which destroyed the previous structure.[1]

Architecture and Ornamentation

Exterior

The church façade is of barn-style Baroque, a style that has been described as typically found in most Spanish-era churches in the Philippines. It features side pillars capped by urn-like finials, pilasters that divide the façade into five segments and cornices that divide the expanse of the wall into two levels. The pediment is semi-arched and ends into two small volutes before tapering down to the sides. It is adorned by a framed saint's niche flanked by two hexagonal windows. A concrete porte cochere has been added later into the structure. To the left of the church rises the four-level, slender belfry. The two uppermost levels are octagonal and are pierced with rectangular, circular and semicircular arched campanile windows.[1]

Interior
18th century altarpiece featuring the seven archangels and a tableau of the Holy Family

The main altarpiece or retablo, which was done in the early 18th century, is done in Rococo style.[2]

See also

References
  1. Galende, OSA, Pedro (2007). Philippine Church Facades (1st ed.). Manila, Philippines: San Agustin Museum. p. 115. ISBN 9789710724338.
  2. Noche, Manuel Maximo (2010). Retablo: The Living Shrines of Faith. Makati City, Philippines: Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. p. 27. ISBN 978-971-94877-0-8.
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