More than design and architecture (which I really know next to nothing about), the one feature that intrigues me when visiting notable churches is what they are made of. Modern churches, especially, now seem to look commonplace, and so we turn to seeking out older churches to somehow fill that curiosity for something novel or not usual. In this case, stones. Churches made of stones never fail to impress me, regardless of their scale or size.
The wall by the main entrance of the Church of Saint Mary The Virgin had this old photograph hanging, showing what the Church looked like back in 1910.
The year was 1907. an Episcopalian priest, Father John A. Staunton, along with his wife, started the Church of Saint Mary The Virgin, making it the first Episcopal Church in Sagada. Construction of the Church made use of lumber sourced locally, with the structure’s thatch made using cogon, a type of grass. The same goes for the bell tower. Two years later, in 1909, the cogon was replaced with proper shingle.
Years and years later, this wood-and-shingle structure was replaced with a stone church that looks like a small cathedral. That is what stands today in Sagada, and it is currently the main Episcopalian Church in the town.
We weren’t able to do more than pass by and look at the Church when I first visited this place in 2007. I remember the doors being closed, presumably after hosting a wedding (which we later gate-crashed, tee-hee).
This time around, the Church of St. Mary The Virgin was wide open, with only several locals hanging around.
So it is not purely made of stone. Presumably, renovations had to be done over the years so there are some “modern” touches you’d see from the structure’s exterior. It is surrounded by a well-kept and contained area with rows and rows of flower patches, adding a much-needed splash of color to the place.
This Church is also known for using stained glass on its windows, although I noticed that it’s only in the case of the larger, more ornate ones.
No paint work has been done on the facade and the rest of the exterior, which is a good idea, in my opinion, since the natural color of the stones used adds a rustic feel to it.
Once you enter, you will immediately notice the generous amount of wood used in the interior’s construction, particularly the ceiling. Pine wood which, I assumed, were from the surrounding forested areas of Sagada, were used to create that solid support for the roof of the Church.
I dunno, it looks pretty solid to me.
It is, by many people’s standards, spartan, with only a handful of decor inside. There was also minimal lighting fixture, so I assume that masses here make use of natural daylight as illumination. The sunlight streaming from those windows made the interior look wider and more spacious than it actually is.
Even the altar was simple enough,
I wonder how the acoustics of the place is. I bet there’d be no need for a microphone for the priest’s voice to boom and echo throughout the Church during a service.
I love how the Church is flanked on both sides by rows and rows of tall pine trees. And some relics or old artifacts. Like this wheel. They make for good photograph opportunities, if you ask me. I don’t quite remember what that wheel was used for or all about, only that it is something significant in the history of the Church, and the town of Sagada, in general.
An old bell is set up at the back of the Church, no longer in use, but still adds to the aesthetic of the place.
You won’t miss this when you’re visiting Sagada, because it’s very close to the Tourism Center/Town Center. If you will go to the Echo Valley, you are bound to pass it, so why not check it out while you’re at it?
Leave a Reply