The complete name of Taytay Church is St. John The Baptist Parish Church. It is located at San Isidro, Taytay, Rizal. I visited it this morning, for the first time. I love to take pictures of Roman Catholic churches, partly because I’m Catholic, and I have interest with architecture and photography.
The marker on the church façade reads:
“Dating yari sa mahihinang kagamitan na ipinatayo ng mga misyonerong Pransiskano malapit sa baybayin ng Laguna de Bay, 1579. Nahiwalay bilang visita ng Santa Ana de Sapa, 1583. Inilipat sa kasalukuyang pook ni P. Pedro Chirino, S.J., 1591 at bininyagan ang bayan ng pangalang San Juan del Monte. Ipinagawa ang unang simbahang bato sa labas ng Maynila. Muling ipinagawa ang pangalawang simbahang bato na higit na malaki ni P. Juan de Salazar, 1630. Nasira ang bubungan ng malakas na bagyo, 1632. Ipinaayos sa pamamahala ng mga Sekular, 1768 at sa mga Agustinong Rekoletos, 1864. Muling nasunog noong digmaang Filipino-Amerikano, 1899. Pinalaki para matugunan ang lumalaking populasyon noong mga unang taon nang 1970s.”
Here’s my translation of the marker for the benefit of my Czech friend Honza:
“Previously made from light materials, it was constructed by Franciscan missionaries near the Laguna Bay in 1579. It was separated as the church of Santa Ana de Sapa in 1583. It was transferred to its present location by Father Pedro Chirino in 1591 and the town was named Saint John of Monte. It was the first stone-church outside of Manila. It was rebuilt as the second stone-church, which is larger, by Father Juan de Salazar in 1630. The roof of the church was destroyed by a strong typhoon in 1632. It was repaired under the Secular in 1768, and under the Augustinian Rekoletos in 1864. It was again burned during the Filipino-American War in 1899. It was expanded to sustain the growing population during the early years of 1970s”
What makes this church unique is the large tree in front of the bell tower and the large statue of St. John The Baptist on the left-side of the façade.
