Candon Church

Saint John of Sahagun Parish Church, commonly known as Candon Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Candon, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. Constructed with an Earthquake Baroque design, the church's four-storey octagonal bell tower has an alternating open and blind apertures, a balustrade and is topped by a campanile (bell tower).

Candon Church
Saint John of Sahagun Parish Church
Parokya ni San Juan de Sahagun (Filipino)
Church facade in 2014
Candon Church Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Candon Church Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines
17°11′36″N 120°26′57″E
Location	Candon, Ilocos Sur
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1591
Founder(s)	Augustinians
Dedication	Saint John of Sahagun
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Earthquake Baroque
Specifications
Number of towers	1
Administration
Province	Ecclesiastical Province of Nueva Segovia
Archdiocese	Nueva Segovia
Clergy
Archbishop	Marlo Mendoza Peralta

History

National historical marker unveiled in 2016

In 1591, the Augustinians accepted Candon as a house while Father Pedro Bravo, OSA initiated building one of the early churches in 1695. It was severely damaged in the 1707 earthquake that struck the country, but was rebuilt under the supervision of Father Jose Carbonel, OSA until 1710, and Father Diego del Castillo, OSA until 1713.^[1]

Features

One of the highlights of this church are the two painting on canvas almost 150 feet (46 m) long, representing the 20 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. It is said to be the longest religious painting in the Philippines. Father Vincente Avila, his cousin Mel Andino (an arts teacher), and Andino's student Redentor Castillo initiated the painting project; the painting was unveiled in December 2007.^[2]

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  Church interior in 2009
• 
  Church nave from the sanctuary showing the ceiling paintings