Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Church, commonly known as the Apalit Church, is a Neo-Renaissance-style Roman Catholic church located at Apalit, in the provinceofPampanga, Philippines. The additional construction of the two towers beside the church served as reinforcements to improve the structural integrity of the church. Also, the church houses bells manufactured by the Sunicos.
In 1597, the Parish of Apalit was separated from the Parish of Calumpit. Fr. Pedro de Vergara was installed as the first curé of Apalit.
On June 28, 1844, the traditional fluvial procession called Libad honouring Saint Peter the Apostle was instituted by Capitán del PuebloDon Pedro Armayan Espíritu.[1]
On July 22, 2017, the holy relic of St. Peter was enthroned in the parish. The holy relic is a fragment of the bones of the remains of St. Peter. This is the only church that has the relic of St. Peter other than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
From 1854 to 1860, he tried to build a three-nave church using stone and brick materials. However, records do not indicate if he was able to finish the church.[2]
1863: the church is destroyed in an earthquake that damaged buildings in Manila.[2]
Following the initial plans of Don Ramón Hermosa, an assistant officer to the Minister of Public Works, he laid the foundations of the new church in January 1876.[3]
The construction of the church was completed in 1883. It was reconsecrated during the town fiesta of that year.[3]
Apalit Church measures 59 metres (194 ft) long and 14 metres (46 ft) wide. The facade resembles Neo-Renaissance style with its plain, low segmental pediment and the symmetrical alignment of two flanking towers. The semi-circular main door with a circular window above is framed by receding semicircular archesinrelief.[2]
The ceiling art paintings, also known as trompe l'oeil were done by a native of Apalit (Marcilino "Siling" Serrano), under the supervision of Caesare Alberoni, an Italian free-lance painter. One notable ceiling art paintings was located in the cupola of the Apalit Church, giving a rendition of the Apocalypse.[4]
There are six bells located at the Apalit Church, five of which came from Fundicion de Hilario Sunico Jaboneros.[4]
Below were the list of the bells with corresponding inscriptions:
Left northeastern tower
Weight (in lb.)
Inscription
Smallest bell
1/2 lb.
AÑO 1895-5 @ (ARROBAS)
Front, cracked
3 lbs.
SAGRADO CORAZON DE MARIA-SIENDO CURA PARROCO EL M.R.P. FR. TORIBIO FANJUL AÑO 1896 31
Second largest bell center stationary
8 lb.
S. PEDRO Y S. PABLO-FVNDIOSE ESTA CAMPANA EL AÑO DE 1821 SIENDO CVRA DE APALIT EL R.P.DIF.r F. JOSEPH POMETA AL TRIDECIMO AÑO DE CURA DE DICHO PUEBLO-FECIT BENITVS a REGIBUS-44
Right southeastern tower
Weight (in lb.)
Inscription
Second smallest bell, clapperless
-
SAN PEDRO DONACION DE D.a SABINA SIOCO-SIENDO CURA PARROCO EL REV. P. ANDRES BITUIN-APALIT, PAMPANGA. AÑO 1931-61 kilos
Big, clapperless bell (made outside of wrought metal bearing)
6 lbs.
* hardly-legible inscription
Front, biggest bell, chipped
10 lbs.
SAGRADO CORAZON DE JESUS-SIENDO CURA PARROCO EL M.R.P.F. TORIBIO FANJUL AÑO 1896-44
Media related to San Pedro Apostol Church, Apalit at Wikimedia Commons
