User:Johnacharon17/sandbox/Guimbal Church

Guimbal Church
Also known as Iloilo's Yellow Sandstone Landmark.

History
The St. Nicolas of Tolentino Parish, or commonly known as Guimbal Church, is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The church was completed under the leadership of Fr. Juan Campos sometime between 1769 and 1774. The church was named after an Augustinian Friar, St. Nicolas, who was assigned to Tolentino because of his extraordinary passion in preaching and kindness. He preached in the streets to spread “peace” and worked with the poor. The Guimbal Church is one of the oldest churches in the country. This yellow sandstone church is made made from adobe stones called igang and coral stones quarried from Guimaras. It was built in 1774 by Father Campos.

The facade is a two-story affair flanked by twinned round pilasters decorated with floral carvings. Its vintage belfry is 4 stories high and doubles as a watchtower during the Spanish occupation against pillaging Moro pirates. It has undergone some reconstruction after it was destroyed twice, during the Second World War and during the 1948 earthquake. Recently, it was rehabilitated to its original structure.