Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is a 17th-century National Historical Landmark, Roman Catholic and Marian church located in Quipayo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is also called Quipayo Church and one of the oldest Catholic churches in Bicol region.
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History
The mission in Quipayo was established by Franciscan missionaries Fr. Pablo de Jesus and Fr. Bartolome Ruiz in 1578, making it one of the oldest churches ever erected in the Bicol region. It was a matriz of many churches in the region including Libmanan, Bangon (Siruma), and Bombon.
As the settlement in Calabanga grew, its people signed a petition on April 28, 1749 requesting for its transformation into an independent town. It was approved on July 15, 1749 by Bishop of Nueva Segovia, Bishop Joan de Arechera, of the Commissary of the King. Our Lady of La Porterio Church was also established in the same year.
The first place of worship in Quipayo was built from humble building materials. The present-day stone church was built during the incumbency of Fr. Francisco Gaviria in 1616. In 1659, St. Roch of Montpellier was installed as secondary patron.
Quipayo was diminished further with the foundation of the town of Bombon in 1818. During the American occupation, Quipayo was absorbed as a village of Calabanga by virtue of Act No. 959 on October 23, 1903.
The facade of the church was damaged due to heavy downpour in 1949.
The Spanish-era church was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute on June 11, 1978. A historical marker was established in the following year.
Architecture
The grand church has red brick exterior, save for the masonry foundation found in the bell tower attached to the church in the epistle side. Its front wall features open and blind arches, as well as pilasters and a rose window just above the lintel of the main doorway. At the peaks of the outer pillars are statues of holy figures.
On the pediment, row of dentil and blind arches decorate the barbed quatrefoil of the patroness. On either walls are the Greek symbols of Alpha and Omega.
Celebration
The feast day of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is December 8.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Quipayo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur 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 Calabanga.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM
- 8:00-9:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Quipayo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur |
| Address | Quipayo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur 4405 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Fr. Pablo de Jesus and Fr. Bartolome Ruiz |
| Established | 1578 |
| Age | 447 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Our Lady of La Porteria |
| Patron | Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, St. Roch of Montpellier |
| Feast day | December 8 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | National Historical Landmark |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Black Nazarene Church in Binanuaanan Pequeño, Calabanga, Camarines Sur
- Divince Mercy Church in Paolbo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur
- Finding of the Holy Cross Church in Manguiring, Calabanga, Camarines Sur
- Our Lady of La Porteria Church in Calabanga, Camarines Sur
- St. Peregrine Laziosi Church in Sto. Domingo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur
References
- Parishes. Archdiocese of Caceres. Retrieved June 6, 2024
- Brief Historical Background. Municipal Government of Calabanga. Retrieved June 6, 2024
- Act No. 959, October 23, 1903. Supreme Court of the Philippines E-Library. Retrieved June 6, 2024
- Simbahan Parokya ng Quipayo. National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures in the Philippines. October 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2024
- QUIPAYO 1578 As historical landmark. Landmark. Retrieved June 6, 2024