San Agustin Church in Intramuros: The Oldest Stone Church in the Philippines
Officially known as the Church of Saint Augustine and the Immaculate Conception, the San Agustin Church is located within the walled city of Intramuros and considered the oldest stone church in the country.
IMAGE from Intramuros Administration
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, it’s also honored as a National Historical Landmark. Built with solid adobe stone and lime mortar, this enduring sanctuary echoes centuries of colonial and religious heritage in its very walls.
IMAGE from Intramuros Administration
Its storied history began in 1571 with bamboo and nipa structures, replaced by a wooden church twice destroyed by fire. In 1586, the Augustinians decided to build a grand, permanent stone edifice under Juan Macias. Though hampered by funding and artisans, the monastery was completed in 1604, with the entire complex finished by 1607. It was the only stone structure to endure the devastating 1863 quake and later calamities, including British looting in 1762 and the 1880 earthquake, which led to the removal of its northern bell tower due to irreparable damage.
Inside, visitors are greeted by an architectural marvel: a Latin cross floor plan, high Baroque retablos (altars), trompe-l’œil ceilings, a pipe organ, and a Baroque pulpit. It is also designed to withstand earthquakes, thanks to its thick walls, buttressed chapels, a stone barrel vault, and dome. The church also houses the crypt of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Manila’s founder, alongside early colonial leaders and clergymen.
IMAGES from Intramuros Administration
Remarkably, the San Agustin Church was the only Intramuros building to survive the devastation of World War II in 1945, even as surrounding convents and cathedrals lay in ruins. During the Japanese occupation, it was used as a concentration camp and machine-gun post. After the war, its adjacent monastery was rebuilt into a museum in the 1970s, housing artworks and artifacts that tell the long history of San Agustin and colonial Intramuros.
IMAGES from Intramuros Administration
Today, San Agustin Church is a major cultural and spiritual spot, which attracts the faithful, history buffs, and everything in between. Visitors can marvel at its exquisite wood-carved doors, drift through the serene cloistered courtyard, and admire artworks by Italian masters like Alberoni and Dibella.
General Information
