San Nicolas de Tolentino Church is a Roman Catholic church in Banton, Romblon, Philippines. Also called Banton Church, its building is of recent construction, yet it was one of the earliest churches erected during colonial period when its construction was carried out at the height of Moro raids in the 17th century.
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History
Banton Island was explored at the outset of the conquest, when Spanish colonizer Martin de Goiti arrived in 1570. Later, it was allocated as an encomienda to Sebastian y Mena who was based in Arevalo (Iloilo) on October 31, 1571. It was described by Miguel de Loarca’s Relacion de las Islas Filipinas in 1582 as an island of rugged terrain planted with coconuts, sweet potatoes, and yams. Its population was two hundred natives, most of whom were involved in trading.
Christianization began with the secular clergy when Banton was established in 1622 and administered by the Diocese of Cebu through the parish of Ajuy, Iloilo. Fr. Francisco Rodriguez Relator was its first priest.
The mission faced great hardship in those times not least because of the lay-out of the islands and the violent attacks by Moro raiders. In 1635, by the decree issued by the Bishop of Cebu, Banton along with the islands in Romblon was turned over to the Augustinian Recollects who appointed Fr. Agustin de San Pedro, OAR and moved the settlement from Bacoco (present-day Hambian) to the current site.
Fr. Agustin de San Pedro, OAR, came in 1644 and immediately began building churches and towers and fortifying the islands of Banton and Romblon. He conducted drills to better prepare the people against attacks. In Banton, the church was dedicated to the invocation of St. Nicholas of Tolentino and a fortress called Fuerza de San Jose was built.
Banton Church was administered from the parish of Romblon or a priest was assigned whenever the Augustinian Recollects could manage to spare, a story that would be repeated several times throughout its history. It became a parish in 1746, and Fr. Jesus del Rosario was sent for its spiritual administration.
Architecture
The facade of the present-day church retains little of its colonial-era construction that could offer a reminder of its storied past. The main entryway is flanked by rows of raised garden. Its wall features concrete bands that abruptly end halfway, dividing the surface into sections that contain an oculus flanked by arch apertures. The bell tower of similar pierced wall is built in the epistle side.
Celebration
The feast day of St. Nicholas of Tolentino is September 10.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Banton, Romblon from May 19, 2025 to May 25, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Banton.
Monday
- No mass schedule found.
Tuesday
- No mass schedule found.
Wednesday
- No mass schedule found.
Thursday
- No mass schedule found.
Friday
- No mass schedule found.
Saturday
- No mass schedule found.
Sunday
- No mass schedule found.
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Banton, Romblon |
| Address | Poblacion, Banton, Romblon 5515 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1622 |
| Age | 403 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1746 |
| Age as parish | 279 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Capiz |
| Diocese | Diocese of Romblon |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of San Nicolas de Tolentino |
| Patron | St. Nicholas of Tolentino |
| Feast day | September 10 |
| Architecture | |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Immaculate Conception Church in Concepcion, Romblon
- St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corcuera, Romblon
- St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Alegria, Corcuera, Romblon
References
- Phercila Ruiz. Romblon Cathedral. iCatholic. October 6, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2023
- Profile of Romblon Province. Philippine Statistical Authority. 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2023
- Diocese of Romblon. Retrieved March 15, 2024
- The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Gutenberg. Retrieved March 15, 2024
- Fr. Agustin de San Pedro Historical Marker. Wikipedia Commons. Retrieved March 15, 2023
- Parish priests of San Nicolas de Tolentino: Banton, Romblon. Wikipedia Commons. Retrieved March 15, 2023
- Antoon Postma. Notes on the history of Sibale or Maestre de Campo. Recollectio 25-26 (2002-2003). Retrieved March 15, 2024
