San Sebastian Church

SAN SEBASTIAN

CHURCH

SAN SEBASTIAN

CHURCHDELA

TORRE, KAREN

B.

LOCATION Pasaje del Carmen Street, Quiapo, Manila

ARCHITECTURAL STYLEGothic RevivalOPENED ARCHITECT1891 Genaro Palacios

SPECIFICATIONSSteel, mixed sand, gravel and cement

SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCH

“The San Sebastian

Church rises in splendor and boasts the title

of the only steel church in Asia. It was built in

reaction to the various calamities, from fires,

typhoons and earthquakes that

devastated the previous structures.

HISTORY

LET’S GO BACK IN

HISTORY

LET’S GO BACK IN

HISTORY

LET’S GO BACK IN

The original church, made of wood, burned in 1651 during a Limahong uprising. The succeeding structures, which were built of brick, were destroyed by fire or earthquakes in 1859, 1863, and 1880.

1651

The original church, made of wood, burned in 1651 during a Limahong uprising. The succeeding structures, which were built of brick, were destroyed by fire or earthquakes in 1859, 1863, and 1880.

1651Esteban Martínez, the parish priest of the ruined church, approached the Spanish Architect Genaro Palacios, with a plan to build a fire and earthquake proof  Church made entirely of steel.

1880

The original church, made of wood, burned in 1651 during a Limahong uprising. The succeeding structures, which were built of brick, were destroyed by fire or earthquakes in 1859, 1863, and 1880.

1651

1888The prefabricated steel sections of the church were manufactured in Binche, Belgium by La société anonyme des Enterprises de Travaux Publiques.

Esteban Martínez, the parish priest of the ruined church, approached the Spanish Architect Genaro Palacios, with a plan to build a fire and earthquake proof  Church made entirely of steel.

1880

In all, 52 tonnes of the steel sections were transported in eight separate shipments from Belgium to the Philippines; the first shipment arrived in this year.1888

In all, 52 tonnes of the steel sections were transported in eight separate shipments from Belgium to the Philippines; the first shipment arrived in this year.1888Belgian engineers supervised the assembly of the church, the first column of which was erected on September 11, 1890. The walls were filled with mixed sand, gravel and cement.

1890

In all, 52 tonnes of the steel sections were transported in eight separate shipments from Belgium to the Philippines; the first shipment arrived in this year.1888

1891Upon final completion on August 16, 1891, the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian was consecrated by then the Archbishop of Manila, Bernardo Nozaleda.

Belgian engineers supervised the assembly of the church, the first column of which was erected on September 11, 1890. The walls were filled with mixed sand, gravel and cement.

1890

FEATURES

STRICKINGGOTHIC

CHURCH

STRICKINGGOTHIC

CHURCH

STEELVAULTS

STRICKINGGOTHIC

CHURCH

STEELVAULTS

STAINEDGLASS

WINDOWS

STRICKINGGOTHIC

CHURCH

STEELVAULTS

STAINEDGLASS

WINDOWS

TWINBELL

TOWERS

From the ground

12 meters (39 ft)to the dome

From the ground

12 meters (39 ft)to the dome

32 meters (105 ft) to the tip of the spires

From the ground

EXTERIOR

EXTERIOR

INTERIOR

INTERIOR

FUNFACTS

The mystery around the church is that Gustave Eiffel was involved with the

design and construction of the

San Sebastian Church .

The connection between Eiffel and San Sebastian Church was reportedly confirmed by Philippine historian Ambeth Ocampo while doing research in Paris. 

Ocampo published a report stating that the prominent architect I.M. Pei had visited Manila in the 1970s to confirm reports he had heard that Eiffel had designed an all-steel church in Asia.

San Sebastian Church was a declared

National Historical Landmark

by President Ferdinand Marcos 

through Presidential Decree

No. 260 in 1973.

The church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on on August 15, 2011 and unveiling of the marker on January 20, 2012.

REFERENCES http://

correosfilipinas.tumblr.com/post/15991398032/san-sebastian-church-steel-vaults-under

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1393406&page=34

http://historicphilippines.com/churches-volume-2/historic-churches-vii/san-sebastian-church-in-quiapo/