St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church, also called Simbahan ng Basey or Basey Church, is a colonial-era, heritage church located in the town of Basey, Samar, Philippines.
Table of Contents
History
The church was founded in Basey in 1591 under the bishopric of Cebu and in 1656 it became a visita of Dagami. The Jesuits were the first religious order who tended to the spiritual needs of the inhabitants. Accounts stated that they built the stone church in the late 17th century.
However, the Jesuits left upon their suppression in 1768. They were replaced by the Augustinians and later by the Franciscans in 1795.
The church was repaired in 1845 by Franciscan friar Domingo de Madrid. The convent and the bell tower were also erected in that same year.
Throughout its history, the church played many roles in the lives of the people in Basey: as a fortress and a mission station and center of evangelization in Spanish colonial times and evacuation site towards the conclusion of the Second World War.
Heritage
Basey Church is declared a heritage church by the National Historical Institute that installed a Level II historical marker in 1987.
Architecture
The massive bell tower is erected in the gospel side of and foregrounds the church. Its polygonal floor plan makes the edifice look nearly like cylindrical in shape. Made of three tiers, its second level is has rectilinear and dormer windows and the uppermost one has decorative pointed arches, rectangular apertures, and capped with muti-gabled roof.
The corbeled portico of the church bears an inscription, “HAEC EST DOMUS DEI ET PORTA COELI” which means “This is the House of God and Gate of Heaven.” The rectilinear door is a rectilinear with narrow arch. The rest of the facade contains stained glass panels of holy figures, attached columns, and the niche of the patron within a round window. The pediment is plain and contains a statue in its peak.
Celebration
The feast of St. Michael the Archangel falls on September 29, and the secular celebration of the town is called Kawayan-Banigan Festival.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church in Basey, Samar from June 9, 2025 to June 15, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Basey.
Monday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Tuesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Wednesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Thursday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Friday
- 4:00-5:00 AM (First Friday)
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Saturday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 8:00-9:00 AM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church in Basey, Samar |
| Other Names | Simbahan ng Basey, Basey Church |
| Address | Basey, 6720 Samar |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1591 |
| Age | 434 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| Diocese | Diocese of Calbayog |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Joseph |
| Patron | St. Michael the Archangel |
| Feast day | September 29 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage Church |
| Belfry | 1 |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- St. Anthony of Padua Church in Tominamos, Santa Rita, Samar
- St. James the Apostle Church in Metro Osmeña, Marabut, Samar
- Sta. Rita of Cascia Church in Santa Rita, Samar
- Sto. Niño Church in Marabut, Samar
References
- Dennis Murphy. A kindly old church. Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 13, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2023
- Chito D. Dela Torre. Semana Santa in Basey. Samar News. March 18, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2023
- Simbahan ng Basey. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved January 26, 2023
- Jesuits in the Philippines: From Mission to Province. Philippine Jesuits. Retrieved January 27, 2023
- Diocese of Calbayog. Claretian Publications. Retrieved January 278, 2023