Holy Rosary Parish Church
Santo Rosario Church Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church
Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Spanish)
Church facade in 2020
Holy Rosary Parish Church Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Holy Rosary Parish Church Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines
15°08′03″N 120°35′25″E / 15.134274°N 120.590265°E / 15.134274; 120.590265
Location	Angeles City
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Founded	1877 (1877)
Dedication	Most Holy Virgin of the Rosary
Dedicated	December 7, 2024; 15 months ago (2024-12-07)
Consecrated	1877 to 1896
Architecture
Architect	Isiah Jerico B. Carreon
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, Renaissance
Administration
Division	Region 3
Province	Pampanga
Archdiocese	San Fernando
Clergy
Archbishop	Most Rev. Florentino G. Lavarias, D.D.
Priest(s)	Rev. Fr. Manny C. Sta. Maria Rev. Fr. Omar Niño V. Defensor Rev. Fr. Gian P. Sagum Rev. Fr. Maverick Angelo M. Pelayo

Holy Rosary Parish Church, also known as Santo Rosario Church or the Pisamban Maragul (transl. Big Church), is a Roman Catholic church in Angeles City in the Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. The church stands in the epicenter of the old Angeles town (formerly Barrio Culiat of San Fernando, Pampanga), now known as Angeles City. The church building is recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as a national historical site^[1] and as an important cultural property by the National Museum of the Philippines.^[2][3]

The foundations of the Holy Rosary Parish Church were first laid on October 18, 1877, by the founding families of old Angeles town led by Don Mariano V. Henson. It was laid out by town planners in the Spanish colonial era and is now one of the most distinctive landmarks of the city today. The church was constructed from 1877 to 1896 by the Polo y Servicio labor system, defined as the forced and unpaid labor of Filipino males for 40 days per year by the Spanish colonial government.

The first Mass was held when only half of the church was built on April 14, 1886. The second half of the church, which includes the building's distinctive dome, was finished on September 17, 1891. The twin bells were rung for the first time on February 12, 1896. The church was finally finished as it still stands today in October 1909. Its engineering and architectural skills were provided by Don Antonio de la Camara from Manila.^[4]

The backyard of the church became the execution grounds from 1896-1898 during tensions between Filipino rebels and the Spanish forces.^[4] The church was also used by the U.S. Army as a military hospital from 1899 to 1900. During World War II, the church's belfry was destroyed; it was restored by the government with the help of American troops and was finished by early 1944.^[5]

In 2023, the two busiest times of the year at the church are the Good Friday Procession, where bare-footed followers of the Apung Mamacalulu, or Lord of the Holy Sepulchre, join the procession in the city proper; and the Easter Sunday celebration of Salubong that ends with the traditional meeting of the Risen Christ and Virgin Mary amidst fireworks.^[6]

The parish announced the elevation of the historic church to the status of Minor Basilica by Pope Leo XIV during their morning mass on February 7, 2026. The date of the elevation rites is yet to be set and announced. This would be the first Minor Basilica in the Archdiocese of San Fernando and the Province of Pampanga. ^[7]

During the 2019 Luzon earthquake, the church sustained critical damage in two pillars and several windows' concrete frames, as well as cracks in several walls on the ceiling.^[8]

The 2019 earthquake exposed the church's deteriorating conditions that demanded repair, restoration and conservation work. Installation of shoring, and removal of debris and components were done to ensure the church's safety. Moreover, engineering works were performed to remove additions made to the structure over time and repair masonry defects on the west bell tower.^[9]

It was estimated that the church's restoration work is to take at least 5 years and would require at least PHP100 million in funding.^[10]

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  Church nave in 2013
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  Side aisle and clerestories
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  Dome interior
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  La Naval de Angeles, titular
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  Last Supper
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  Pietà
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  The adoration chapel situated at the back of the church
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  the third belfry, added after the completion of the church's restoration and consecration
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  the current retablo of the church post restoration and consecration, the Santo angel custudios was enthroned again.
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  The image of Saint Michael the archangel, only brought out during the feast of the Santo angel custudios, the titular patron of angeles
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  A picture of Apung Mamacalulu, the secondary patron of Angeles city
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  an image taken from the entrance of the chapel of devotions
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  The chapel of devotions
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  the baptistry
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  the baptismal font
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  The venerada replica of the Santo Angel Custudios
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  the Parochial image of Apung Mamacalulu,

• Media related to Angeles Church at Wikimedia Commons
• Holy Rosary Parish Church on Facebook