St. Isidore the Farmer Church is the 19th-century, heritage church located in the town of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is also commonly known as Simbahan ng Zamboanguita or Zamboanguita Church.
Table of Contents
History
The church in Zamboanguita was founded by the Augustinian Recollects in 1850. Formerly a visita of the parish of Dauin, it became an independent parish on May 21, 1866 and Fr. Faustino Sanchez was assigned as parish priest. The Recollects left in 1898 at the height of the Philippine Revolution, by which time the diocese took over, and then they returned starting in 1908. They handed the parish over back to the care of the diocesan clergy in 1982.
The stone church within the terms of three successive priests between 1871 and 1897: Fr. Laureano Navarro, Fr. Lorenzo Cordon, and Fr. Manuel Fernandez Gamboa.
The NHCP undertook a multimillion-peso restoration of the church in 2018, and the newly restored church was turned over to the Diocese of Dumaguete the following year.
Heritage
The Church of Zamboanguita is declared a heritage church by the NHCP who installed a Level II historical marker on August 29, 2019.
Architecture
Zamboanguita Church stands out on the account of its slender facade, broken gable, and red brick masonry of its pediment. While it is sparase of any decorative stone sculpture, it has quite distinctive mamposteria exterior, arch and rose openings, and a narrow overhang over the entrance. The pediment also functioins as a belfry, its wall pierced with a pair of arches where the bells hang.
Celebration
The patronal feast of St. Isidore the Farmer falls on May 15 in what is called Baulan Festival.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Isidore the Farmer Church in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental 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 Zamboanguita.
Monday
- 6:30-7:30 AM
Tuesday
- 6:30-7:30 AM
Wednesday
- 6:30-7:30 AM
Thursday
- 6:30-7:30 AM
Friday
- 6:30-7:30 AM
Saturday
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 6:30-7:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 8:30-9:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Isidore the Farmer Church in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental |
| Other Names | Simbahan ng Zamboanguita, Zamboanguita Church |
| Address | Corner Magsaysay St. Quezon St., 6218 Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Augustinian Recollects |
| Established | 1850 |
| Age | 175 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | May 21, 1866 |
| Age as parish | 159 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Diocese | Diocese of Dumaguete |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. John |
| Patron | St. Isidore the Farmer |
| Feast day | May 15 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage Church |
| Completed | 1897 |
| Age since completed | 128 years |
| Builder | Fr. Laureano Navarro, Fr. Lorenzo Cordon, and Fr. Manuel Fernandez Gamboa |
| Belfry | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Our Lady of the Abandoned Church in Valencia, Negros Oriental
- San Nicholas de Tolentino Church in Dauin, Negros Oriental
- San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Magsaysay, Dauin, Negros Oriental
- St. Augustine of Hippo Church in Bacong, Negros Oriental
- St. Ezekiel Moreno Quasi-Parish Church in Caidiocan, Valencia, Negros Oriental
- St. Vincent Ferrer Quasi Parish Church in Apo Island, Dauin, Negros Oriental
References
- Simbahan ng Zamboanguita. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. November 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2023
- Mary Judaline Partlow. 3 churches listed as NHCP historic sites. Philippine News Agency. August 30, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2023