Naic Church

Naic Church
Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception
Church facade in 2015
14°19′12″N 120°45′51″E
Location	Naic, Cavite
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church and diocesan shrine
Dedication	Immaculate Conception
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Earthquake Baroque Gothic Revival
Specifications
Materials	Adobe stones
Administration
Archdiocese	Manila
Diocese	Imus

The Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Church, also known as Naic Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in the municipality of Naic in Cavite, Philippines. It was constructed during the 1800s. When the friars discovered that the land at Naic was fertile, they became interested in settling there. It eventually led them to build the administration building of Casa Hacienda, presently occupied by the Naic Central School. Casa Hacienda de Naic is the only casa hacienda administered by friars in the Philippines that is still in use.

History

It has been believed that the original location of the Naic's poblacion was at the western side of the present site of the town. It was near a bridge constructed during the time of Juan Matavacas. The change of location of the poblacion happened on 1798 during the administration of Don Miguel de la Cruz, the first acting-monsignor of the town. The parish was established on 1796 and was headed by Pedro Antonio de Escuza.

Parish priests

• Jose de los Reyes
• Doroteo de los Reyes
• Pedro Celestino
• Jose Dionicio
• Jose Martin
• Mateo Rivera
• Pedro Florentino
• Antonio Juanito
• Vicente Lopez
• Manuel M. Pastor
• Modesto de Castro
• Antonio Sabit
• Salustiano Marcos
• Francisco Govea
• Calixto Villafranca
• Simon Sanchez
• Galo Minguez
• Pedro Valentin

Architectural history

Church interior in 2023

The church, constructed during the 1800, was made up of wood and cogon grass. Later additions of the church, such as kopa, a pair of cruets, and ornamentation, were added six years after its initial construction. On 1835, the construction of a new stone church was administered by Don Pedro Florentino. Its construction resulted to influx of people - from 18 barrios, or neighborhood in 1845 to 26 barrios in 1867. It reached up to 54 barrios in 1888.

During the revolutionary period, the church convent of Naic was used as the headquarters of Andres Bonifacio after the Tejeros Convention of March 22, 1897. The Naic conference was held at the church convent. It was in this conference that the old Tagalog letter of the flag was replaced by a "Sun of Liberty" with the symbolic eight rays. The sun was shown with teo eyes, a nose and a mouth.

In 2014, the church was restored by Wong Chu King Foundation. Further renovations by local craftsmen under architect Noel Gatus added intricate, classical-style mosaic floor along its central nave. The millions of triangular marbles used were provided by Kaufman Stone.

Architectural features

The present church was built in the 17th century. Before the World War II, the Naic Church was built along the semi-gothic architecture. It was one of the tallest (about five storeys high) and the longest (almost ten blocks long) in the province of Cavite. It was second to the Imus Cathedral in width. Three major altars and two minor altars were founded in its interior. The Very Venerated Image of the Immaculate Concepcion, Patron Lady of Naic, was located in the main altar.

External links

• Media related to Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception of Naic at Wikimedia Commons
• Naic Church on Facebook