Baclayon Church

Baclayon Church, formally La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines, about 6 km east of Tagbilaran City. Founded by Jesuits in 1596 and built of coral stone in 1727, it is considered one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines. Declared a National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, it houses a museum and was restored after the 2013 Bohol earthquake.

Visitors can expect a historic coral-stone church facing the sea with a facade, bell tower, and adjacent convent that now serves as a museum. Inside are a high-ceiling nave, ornate altar, religious statues, and centuries-old artifacts. The museum displays ecclesiastical vestments, librettos, and religious relics. The complex is compact and surrounded by a plaza and coastal road, allowing for sightseeing, photography, and guided tours of the church and museum.

Founded by Jesuit priests Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sanchez in 1596, Baclayon Church is the second oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. The present coral stone structure was built between 1717 and 1727 under Jesuit supervision using coral blocks cut from the sea and bound with egg whites. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Severely damaged by the 7.2-magnitude Bohol earthquake on October 15, 2013, it underwent extensive restoration and was reopened to the public on February 27, 2018.

Serves as an active Roman Catholic parish under the Diocese of Tagbilaran dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Represents Spanish colonial religious architecture and Jesuit heritage in the Visayas. The adjoining museum preserves liturgical artifacts, religious images, and documents reflecting centuries of Catholic tradition in Bohol.