La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church (also The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Parish Church), best known as Baclayon Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in the municipality of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tagbilaran. Baclayon was founded by the Jesuit priest Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sánchez in 1596, and became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. It was elevated as a parish in 1717 and the present coral stone church was completed in 1727. The Augustinian Recollects succeeded the Jesuits in 1768 and heavily renovated the church since then.
The Baclayon Church, just six kilometers away from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, is the second oldest stone church in the Philippines (the oldest is San Agustin Church, in Real Street, Intramuros, Manila, built in 1571). Baclayon Church constructed in 1595 by the Jesuit priests, it is still intact and houses important relics and images reminiscent of the historic Roman Catholic religion in the Philippines. Among those displayed in the church museum are: crystal chandelier, silver tabernacle, altar with carvings inlaid with gold, life-size statues and more.
Baclayon Museum hours
Monday to Saturday:
8.30am – 11.45am, 1.30pm – 4.45pm (11.45am – 1.30pm CLOSED)
Sunday:
9.30am – 11.45am, 1.30pm – 4.15pm (11.45am – 1.30pm CLOSED)
Museum Entrance Fee:
Entry into the Baclayon Church is free.
Entry into the church museum is Php 50 per person.
Baclayon is a fourth income class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines.
Baclayon was the first municipality to be established in Bohol by the Spaniards and included originally the areas now made up by the municipalities of Alburquerque, Balilihan, Corella, and Sikatuna. Its original name was Bacayan, from the root word bacay, meaning "detour" in reference to the fact that travellers used to make a detour there around a rocky cliff.
The municipality also has jurisdiction over the dolphin- and whale-watching island of Pamilacan.
