Parish Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria of Carcar City

Official Name: Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria[1]

Classification Status: Marked Structure, NHCP[1]

Town or City: Carcar City

Year Declared: 1865[1]

Other Declarations: Registered Property of the City of Carcar,
Classified Historic Structures (covering all Colonial Churches and other Houses of Worship, per NHCP Res. No. 3, s. 1991)[1]

Description:
The Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as St. Catherine's Church or the Carcar Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Carcar, Cebu, Philippines.[2]

History
Carcar in Cebu has been under a parish since 1599, administered by the Augustinians. The present Carcar Church was constructed during the 19th century, coinciding with Cebu's economic growth and prominence in agriculture. It is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of Carcar.

Architecture and Design
The Carcar Church is designed in the basilica style, featuring a separate convent building. It is constructed using coral stones, with hardwood used for upper stories and ceilings. The architectural style is a blend of Neo-Mudéjar, Revival Baroque, Austrian Baroque, and Gothic Revival. Additionally, influences from Greco-Roman and Muslim architecture are evident. The convent building also incorporates elements of the indigenous bahay na bato style.

The church's ceiling boasts decorative artwork by Cebuano artist Canuto Avila, commissioned by Fr. Anastasio Nuñez del Corro. Created during the 1910s and 1920s, this trompe-l'œil mural features rosettes as motifs rather than theological subjects.[2]

Source:
1. https://ncca.gov.ph/philippine-registry-cultural-property-precup/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Catherine%27s_Church,_Carcar