STA. CRUZ CHURCH IN MARINDUQUE

Photo from: http://www.marinduquemovers.com/marinduque/sta-cruz/

The Sta. Cruz Church is the oldest in the province, constructed in 1760, with intricately-carved retablos and pulpit still intact today. Even with renovations done in recent years, most of this historic church’s interiors and furnishings are well-preserved. Read More: http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/2014/04/welcome-to-sta-cruz-marinduque.html

Photo from: https://m.inquirer.net/lifestyle/156954

Photo from: http://bantogbackpackers.blogspot.com/2013/08/marinduque-sta-cruz-church.html

Like other churches in the country, it stands majestically over all other structures in the community. According to the inscription on its main door, the church was constructed in 1760. This makes it the oldest standing structure in the province, even older than the Boac Church, which was constructed in 1792 by the Jesuit priests.

The church was not only built for worship; it was also designed to provide natives a refuge in times of calamities and attacks by Moro pirates. It did serve its purpose very well. When piracy was at its height, a deep moat was constructed parallel to the walls to make it doubly difficult to penetrate the church defenses. The tile roofing destroyed by a quake was eventually replaced with galvanized iron from Europe and it has effectively preserved the whole structure for posterity. Read More: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lenareh/2841694682

Photo from: https://banebanerbanest.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/marinduque-mis-adventures/

Marinduque has a two old church, one in Boac and one in Sta. Cruz. Some say this town was called Sta. Cruz in Marinduque because of the Holy Cross brought by Magellan in Cebu. Others believe the legend that Sta. Cruz got its name from an apparition of a cross that guided the early missionaries to a safe landing place during a thunderstorm on one of their visits in the area where they erected a wooden cross on the mountain where Sta. Cruz Church now stands. Read More: http://jeffponce.blogspot.com/2012/05/sta-cruz-church-in-marinduque.html

Photo from: http://www.blissfulguro.com/2012/09/poctoy-beach-in-marinduque.html