San Ignacio Church

A picture of the old, and much-lamented San Ignacio church in Intramuros, Manila.



The church was run by the Jesuits and was the toast of high society, in the less than sixty years it existed. Though not a physically imposing building (it was notably small, only 80' by 40' if I recall correctly), it was nevertheless decorated with the best artwork-- the famed sculptor and santero Isabel Tampingco worked on San Ignacio's ceiling, as well as carved many statues for the church, including the Immaculate Conception and the image of St. Ignatius in the main altar.

San Ignacio was destroyed in World War II, a victim of Allied attacks. By the time it was destroyed, Mass had not been said on its altars for well over three years-- the building, which had been decorated with various hardwoods, took several days to burn. Its ruins remain even to this day, a silent, brooding sentinel of a bygone age.