St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church is a heritage church located in the town of Inabanga, Bohol, Philippines. It is also referred to as Simbahan ng Inabanga (Inabanga Church) and its second patron is San Antonio Abad (St. Anthony the Great)
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History
The Jesuits founded the church led by Fr. Silvestre Puigvert, S.J. in 1724. When the Augustinian Recollects arrived to replace the Jesuits beginning in 1768, the parish was transferred to its present-day location. The Recollect friars were in turn replaced by the secular clergy in 1898.
The church met several man-made destructions throughout history. It was damaged by the followers of Francisco Dagohoy’s revolution sometime in the 18th century. The apse wall was repaired in 1889 by the Augustinian Recollects. In 1899, the church and convent were erected, however it was burned in 1902 by the American invading forces.
The facade was built within the term of Fr. Quiterio Sarigumba in 1931 and the bell tower by Fr. Valeriano Cabantan in 1940. The mural paintings found in its ceiling were created by Garces siblings (as evidenced by the inscription they left) in the tradition of Raymundo Francia and Canuto Avila. Repairs were carried out in February 2004 from the donation by Alex Te and its roofing of tin sheets were replaced with roof tiles.
On November 15, 2013, the church was reduced into rubble saved its facade after a 7.2 earthquake. The NHCP carried out the much-needed reconstruction. The government agency turned the newly rebuilt church over to the Diocese of Talibon on December 20, 2017.
Heritage
Inabanga Church was declared a house of worship of historic significance by the NHCP and a Level II marker was installed on March 10, 2015.
Architecture
A porte-cochere is located by the arch entrance of the church. Its posts are embellished with gables and rectangles and its roof is decorated with balustrade. Perhaps the most eye-catching detail is found in its facade filled with neogothic elements that are either purely decorative (pointed arches, spires, and crockets that are reliefs on the wall) and functional (lancet windows and round apertures with tracery that are flanking the entrance). In the level of the portico’s roof are a set of rectilinear windows bounded by ornamental pointed arches.
Another emblem that one can notice is a four-leaf clover found in the pediment and in the windows. Along the outline of its broken gable is fitted with balustrade, finials, and clover-shaped molding, and it also contains stars flanking a cross and in high relief “1931” which indicates the year of its construction. In the apex is a spire (two arch punctures enclosed in a crocketed pointed arch) from which rises a budded cross.
The bell tower is located in the epistle flank with a quadrangular base and octagonal uppermost levels. Its roof is crowned with a cupola.
Celebration
The feast day of St. Paul is celebrated on June 29 and feast of St. Anthony the Great is January 17.
Services
The novena for Our Mother of Perpetual Help is scheduled every Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
Holy Hour is observed every 5:00 in the morning on Fridays.
Baptism is scheduled every 11:30 in the morning on Saturdays.
Confession is at 5:00 AM before the mass on Friday.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church in Inabanga, Bohol 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 Inabanga.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 4:00-5:00 PM (Cemetery Mass)
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Healing Mass - Fourth Thursday)
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Saturday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (First Saturday)
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Regular
- the rest of Saturdays in the month)
- 6:00-7:00 PM (Anticipated Mass at Lawis Chapel)
Sunday
- No mass schedule found.
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church in Inabanga, Bohol |
| Other Names | Inabanga Church, Simbahan ng Inabanga |
| Address | Poblacion, Inabanga, Bohol 6332 |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Fr. Silvestre Puigvert, S.J. |
| Established | 1724 |
| Age | 301 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Diocese | Diocese of Talibon |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Paul |
| Patron | St. Paul the Apostle, St. Anthony the Great |
| Feast day | June 29 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage Church |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Age since completed | 94 years |
| Builder | Fr. Quiterio Sarigumba, Fr. Valeriano Cabantan |
| Style | Neogothic |
| Belfry | 1 |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Immaculate Conception Quasi-Parish Church in U-og, Inabanga, Bohol
- Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish Church in Lubang, Buenavista, Bohol
- Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Buenavista, Bohol
- San Isidro Labrador Church in Cawayan, Inabanga, Bohol
- St. Joseph Church in San Jose, Inabanga, Bohol
- Sto. Niño Church in Getafe, Bohol
- Sto. Niño Church in Lapacan Sur, Inabanga, Bohol
References
- Diocese of Talibon. Claretian Publications. Retrieved January 9, 2023
- Edgar Allan M. Sembrano. Bohol’s Spanish colonial churches now restored. Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 26, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2023
- Watch FB Live (Part 2): Turn-over of the restored Saint Paul the Apostle Church. Municipality of Inabanga. December 20, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2023
- Jose, Regalado Trota (2001). Visita Iglesia Bohol: A Guide to Historic Churches. National Commission on Culture and the Arts. Manila, Philippines. ISBN 9718140166, 978-9718140161. Retrieved January 9, 2023
- About Inabanga Church. Inabanga Church Bohol. Retrieved from original post on January 9, 2023
- Simbahan ng Inabanga. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. November 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2023