Sts. Peter and Paul Church, also known as Bantayan Church, is a 19th-century Roman Catholic church located in Bantayan, in the northern part of the province of Cebu, Philippines. Established in 1580, it is considered the first and the oldest parish in Visayas and Mindanao.
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History
San Pedro y San Pablo Church has a long history. It was established by Augustinian friars on June 11, 1580 and once part of the Archdiocese of Mexico.
Previously under the patronage of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, it was founded because Bantayan had a considerable population of inhabitants. In 1603, the diocesan clergy assumed its administration.
The area however was vulnerable to attacks from the sea conducted by raiders that occurred over the years. In 1628 many townsfolk were captured, and in 1754 the onslaught resulted in the destruction of the church.
Fr. Doreteo Andrada del Rosario started the construction of the present church that began in 1839 and finished in 1863.
Bantayan was granted an exemption from fasting during Lenten season through an indult or “indulto apostolico para el uso de carnes” issued in 1843. A document given by ecclesiastical authorities in Spain containing the declaration that allowed the consumption of meat during Holy Week is in display in the parish museum.
Several theories are put forward to explain how such an exemption was earned. Parishioners were mostly fisher-folks who subsisted on a seafood diet.
Thus firstly, the indult gave them the chance and the time to attend to religious services on Holy Week as they did not need to go to the sea to earn their daily bread.
Secondly, the construction of the church through forced labor may have made such exemption necessary.
Thirdly, the islanders did not dare go fishing out of fear that the waters would be perilous or such an endeavor is fraught with dangers as a punishment for not observing Lenten obligations.
Heritage
Parish Church of Sts. Peter & Paul is considered a national heritage church. A Level II marker under House of Worship was installed by the National Historical Institute in 1980.
Architecture
The church is singularly unique with an arch main door and an exterior wall as well as a pediment filled with ornaments and niches. There are four sets of twin pilasters the capitals of which are embellished. Moldings are plain, but the frieze contain reliefs of various icons.
The pediment contains a niche of the Holy Trinity, Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario below, St. Peter, and on the entablature is an inscription containing details of the construction of the church. Each corner of the pediment contains reliefs as well as topped with a stone dome and a cross. Just above the puerta mayor is the coat of arms of the Papacy, and flanking it are niches of saints.
A four-level, quadrilateral bell tower stands at the gospel side of the church. Old pictures show that it has an openwork running down uninterrupted from the second to the third floor in the middle of the stonewall. Presently, the two floors are delineated with each pierced with open arches.
The ceiling was painted in a project dubbed Dibuho Kisame Project. It was made possible by the efforts of twelve artists that started the works in September 2018. Paintings cover a surface area of 1,130 square meters and were unveiled on June 29, 2019.
Celebration
The town celebrates the feast in honor of Saints Peter and Paul every June 28th and 29th. The town likewise celebrates the Palawod Festival.
Services
Baptism is every Sunday mass at 10:00 in the morning. Special baptisms are held in bario chapel mass. Registration is open from Monday to Saturday while the seminar is scheduled Sundays at 8:00 in the morning
Blessings of private dwellings are arranged by appointment, while of vehicles can be arranged before or after the Holy Mass. An appointment can also be made through the parish office.
Confession schedule is every first Friday at 8:00 in the evening.
Regular confirmation is scheduled on June 28, vesperas at 3:00 in the afternoon.
Regular wedding schedule is every Thursday at 9:00 in the morning. Seminars is for half day every first Friday and whole day every first Saturday of the month.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Bantayan, Cebu 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 Bantayan.
Monday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Tuesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Wednesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Thursday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:30-7:30 AM (English)
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Friday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Saturday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 6:00-7:00 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 8:00-9:00 AM (FB Live)
- 10:00-11:00 AM
- 3:00-4:00 PM
- 4:30-5:30 PM
- 6:00-7:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Bantayan, Cebu |
| Other Names | Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol Bantayan, Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Bantayan Church |
| Address | Pres. M. L. Quezon St., Bantayan, 6052 Cebu |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 0947 895 7785 / 032 460 0095 |
| parokyanipedro1580@gmail.com | |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | June 11, 1580 |
| Age | 445 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| District | District VI – Far North Cebu |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Sts. Peter and Paul |
| Patron | Saints Peter and Paul |
| Feast day | June 29 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage Zone/Historic Center |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Age since completed | 162 years |
Nearby Churches
- Immaculate Conception Church in Madridejos, Cebu
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church in Tangkong, Bantayan Island, Cebu
- San Isidro Labrador Parish Church in Doong, Bantayan Island, Cebu
- San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church in Kampingganon, Bantayan Island, Cebu
- Santo Niño Church in Santa Fe, Cebu
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church in Pili, Madridejos, Bantayan Island, Cebu
References
- Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Inc. and University of San Carlos Press. 2010. ISBN 978-9715390187.
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved June 20, 2022
- Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Towns and Parishes in Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved via Academia on June 20, 2022
- Lacamiento, Grace Melanie I. (April 22, 2019). In Bantayan Church, mural seen to boost tourism. The Freeman. Retrieved June 20, 2022
- Modequillo, Archie (March 31, 2019). Bantayan before the Holy Week. The Freeman. Retrieved June 20, 2022
- Lachica, Immae (July 2, 2019). Bantayan church ceiling project unveiled during the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 20, 2022
- Abatayo, Rosalie O. (June 30, 2020). Bantayan town declares June 30 as Bantayan Day. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 20, 2022
- Saceda, Charlie (April 22, 2019). Good Friday exemption in the Philippines. UCA News. Retrieved July 5, 2022
- Cabiles, Bon (March 30, 2013). Holy Week in Bantayan: Fast or feast? Rappler. Retrieved July 5, 2022