The church derives its name from John the Baptist, to whom it is dedicated. He is both the patron saint and namesake of the city, which has the ceremonial name of San Juan del Monte (Saint John of the Mountain), owing to the area's hilly terrain.
The high altar within the western sanctuary of the church. A freestanding altar stands before it on a platform that extends into the main nave.
Establishment
Although the parish was established on July 15, 1894, the construction of the first church happened a year after, under the supervision of architect Luis Arellano and the financial support of Mariano Artiaga. A Franciscan, Roman Pérez, served as the first parish priest from 1894 until 1897.[3]
The newly built church then enshrined a centuries-old image of John the Baptist, after whom the town is named.[4]
Revolution against Spain
On August 30, 1896, the Battle of San Juan del Monte between Filipino and Spanish troops occurred on the tract of land fronting the newly built church. The battle, which was one of the first in the Philippine Revolution, is commemorated annually at the shrine and park that stands today at the site.[2]
Renovations
The northern front door of the eastern façade, which was one of two doors added during the expansion in the 1950s
Ramón J. Fernández spearheaded repairs to the church, which was damaged in the Revolution. When Hernando Antiporda (who later became Auxiliary Bishop of Manila) was parish priest in 1951, the church was renovated and expanded under the supervision of architect Otilio A. Arellano, grandson of the original architect, Luis Arellano. The younger Arellano notably preserved the original façade and nave of the structure.[2] With the expansion, the church acquired two additional front doors.[3]
Expansion
In 1975, Severino Casas built two mortuary chapels in the church compound. Changes in 1983 included the lengthening of the nave and the removal of the choir loft above the main door, as well as the installation of the crucifix above a new altar. The retablo (reredos) was preserved, while the antique image of Saint John the Baptist—which was previously at the top-centre of the retablo—was moved to the Saint Joseph Chapel.[3]
A rectory, social hall, and crypt were built in 1987 on the location of the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto built in 1955. A year later, a Perpetual Adoration Chapel was built, only to be demolished to make way for the Holy Child Parochial School (now the St. John the Baptist Catholic School). A smaller, air-conditioned Adoration Chapel at the ground floor of the school near the church's southern entrance was finished in 2009.[3]
The St. John the Baptist Church was declared as a historical landmark through San Juan Municipal Council Resolution, Ordinance No. 63 Series of 1989.[3]
On May 15, 1994, the Feast of the Ascension, Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop of Manila, blessed and inaugurated the new San Juan Centennial Belfry, built to commemorate the church's hundredth anniversary. Architects Renato Berroya and Arsenio Topacio designed the structure, which matches the façade,[5] and houses the church bell that dates to 1896.[3]
Archdiocesan Shrine
On June 24, 2024, Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, bestowed the title of Archdiocesan Shrine to the parish church. The shrine also opened a Holy Door to mark its 130th jubilee year. In the same event, Mayor Francis Zamora, one of the city government officials in attendance, endorsed to Cardinal Advincula a resolution declaring John the Baptist as the patron saint (de jure) of San Juan City.[6]
^ abc"Old Churches". City of San Juan, Historic City of Excellence. San Juan City Government. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
^ abcdef"Parish History". St. John the Baptist Parish. St. John the Baptist Parish. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
_2024-06-24.jpg)
_2024-06-24.jpg)
