Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (Anglican Church)

When we're going to visit the Hanging Coffins, we passed by this church. I was curious because of the unique design of this church. Unfortunately, it was closed that time so we just content ourselves in taking pictures outside of the church.

Religious belief in Sagada started about 300 years ago, when some Kanakanaey folks came and settled in. Kankaneys are part of collective group of Filipino Indigenous people from Northern Philippines, known as Igorot people. An Igorot folklore hero, Biag, takes a special role in the founding of Sagada. He was the one who introduced rites and prayers to the spirits to the people. The same rites and prayers they practice until now, for which they offer animals to the spirits.

The Spaniards tried to introduce Christianity to the Igorots, but the fierceness of the natives made it impossible for them. Although there are other areas in Sagada that were civilized and baptized by the Spaniards.It was short lived, though, when the war against the Spaniards broke out in 1896.

The American forces, however, were stronger than that of the Natives. They were able to colonized Sagada, thus the birth of the Anglican Church. Saint Mary the Virgin is an Anglican Church that was built in 1921. And like many churches in the Philippines, this was not spared during the World War II. 

The mission was interrupted too because of the Second World War. But soon after General Yamashita was captured, the American Missionaries came back to Sagada to continue their mission. Their Episcopal Church influenced the people in Sagada and it's still considered as the widely Anglican Christian in the Philippines.

If I return to Sagada, I'll make sure to visit the only 2 Catholic churches in the province. The St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kilong and the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Chapel in Aguid.

If you're going to visit the Echo Valley, you'll pass by this church and also the Veterans Cemetery.