Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church

St Francis of Assisi Church is a Roman Catholic church in Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines. Based on the Historical marker of St. Francis of Assisi Church, the first structure was constructed in 1599. The second church was built in 1605 but was replaced by a third church in 1641. In 1703 the town was transferred to Lumangbayan but the earthquakes and floods of 1743 destroyed the church and the town caused the people to transfer to the present site. The present church was built in 1748 during the term of 2 Spanish Friars namely, Fr. Martin de Talavera and Fr. Joaquin Alapont.Church FeaturesThe main features of the church include the old baptistery located at the first floor of the four-storey church belfry that contains old bells. Connected to the left side of the main structure is the 1922 convent that was erected during the term of Fr. Policarpio Trinidad. Inside the church is the old Retablo and two side altars containing old images of saints, and the 18th century replica of the medieval Santo Cristo de Burgos in Spain.The walls of the church were made of red bricks embedded in masonry with adobe slabs plastered on the external surface of the walls. The original roof was made of roof bricks but it was changed to galvanized iron in 1947.According to Eric Dedace, PRO of Sariaya Tourism Council, the present church is a product of free labor by the native inhabitants during the Spanish occupation.