Panay Church

Panay Church
Panay Church
Santa Monica Parish Church
Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Mónica (Spanish)
Simbahan sang Parokya sang Santa Mónica (Hiligaynon); Simbahang Parokya ni Santa Mónica (Filipino);
	Church facade in 2022
	Panay Church Location in the Visayas Panay Church Location in the Philippines
	11°33′20″N 122°47′38″E / 11.555622°N 122.793905°E
Location	Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Rd., Panay, Capiz
Country	Philippines
Language(s)	Hiligaynon, English
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Founded	1698
Founder(s)	Augustinian Friars
Dedication	Saint Monica
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Historical Landmark; National Cultural Treasure;
Designated	1997 National Historical Landmark; 2004 National Cultural Treasure;
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Filipino Colonial Neo-Classical Baroque
Specifications
Length	70 meters
Width	25 meters
Height	18 meters
Bells	9 bells
Tenor bell weight	10.4 metric ton (largest bell)
Administration
Province	Capiz
Metropolis	Capiz
Archdiocese	Capiz
Deanery	Santa Monica
Parish	Santa Monica

Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known as Panay Church, is a historic Roman Catholic church in Panay, Capiz on Panay island of the Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Capiz. It was built in 1884 on the site of an earlier church, built in 1774 by Miguel Murguia, which was gravely damaged by the typhoon of January 17, 1875.^[1]^: 423 The church is built of coral blocks and is approximately 70 metres long, 25 m in width and 18 m in height; the walls are about 3 metres thick.^[1]^: 423^[2]

The church has an unusually large bell, the largest in the country. Capiz hosts Asia's biggest “church” bell.^[3] This was cast by Juan Reina in about 1884, using sacks of coin given by the people of the town; it weighs more than 10 tonnes.^[1]^: 423

In 1997 the church was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.^[4]