Diocesan Shrine of St. Clement
This church, dedicated to St. Clement of Rome ((also known as Pope Clement I), had humble beginnings as a chapel of a hacienda in 1751. A church, in Biga, was damaged during the June 3, 1863 earthquake and never repaired.
The church’s Baroque facade
The present church, began in 1877 with mulawin posts, cogon roof and bamboo sidings but, on July 2, 1881, an Episcopal permit was issued by Archbishop Pedro Payo de Felix to construct the church with its present day materials.
Old photo of church (photo: Municipality of Angono Facebook page)
The bell tower, built in 1930 by Fr. Segundo Alto, replaced the small wooden campanario located at the patio. A big copper church bell, brought to Angono in 1784, by the hacendero Josep Blanco Bermudez, is still in use at the bell tower of the present church. In 1938, another big copper bell, donated by Pedro Anorico, was installed at the bell tower.
The church’s modern interior
AUTHORS NOTES:
The church’s simple Baroque facade has a protruding central segment with a semicircular arched main entrance with receding planes above which is a semicircular arch niche (with statue of St. Clement) and a triangular pediment. Flanking this ensemble are semicircular arch statued niches.
The first two storeys (and part of the third), with semicircular arch windows, of the bell tower on the left are original. The slender tower above, which replaced two octagonal storeys with balustrade and pyramidal roof, is a later addition. The right wing and the third level of the facade are also later additions.
The modern interior has paintings done by Angono artists above the left side of the nave.
The main altar and retablo
In 1952, the glorietta, with its statue of Christ the King, was completed and, in 1955, the window frames and panels in the bell tower and convent were renovated.
The left side of the nave with paintings by Angono artists
On September 8, 2021 (the Feast of the Nativity of Mary), the church was declared as a Diocesan Shrine ((the 10th diocesan shrine of the Diocese of Antipolo) by Antipolo Bishop Francisco de Leon.
Paintings of Angono artists
Diocesan Shrine ofSt. Clement: Dona Aurora St., Brgy. Poblacion Ibaba, Angono, 1930 Rizal. Tel: (02) 8650-3859. Feast of Pope St. Clement: November 22-23.
How to Get There: Angono is located 26 kms. (a 1-hour drive via OrtigasAve.) from Manila and 18.4 kms. (a 40-min. drive via E Bank Rd.) from Antipolo City.