San Ignacio Church (Manila)
San Ignacio Church (; ) in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines, was designed for the Jesuits by architect Félix Roxas Sr., and completed in 1899. It was known as their "Golden Dream" but was destroyed during World War II. Its interiors, embellished with carvings, had been designed by Isabelo Tampinco. The church building is currently being reconstructed, along with its adjoining Casa Misión Convent, as the Museo de Intramuros. History The Jesuits built two churches in honor of St. Ignatius of Loyola at two different sites. The first site was located along Calle Real del Palacio, at the present site of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (former site of Colegio de Manila). The second site was located along Calle Arzobispo, beside the guesthouse of the Archdiocese of Manila and the archdiocesan chancery and archives – formerly the Arzobispado or the Episcopal Palace, the residence and office of the archbishop of Manila. First church There were three churches built at the site of the former Colegio de Manila (currently Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila) between 1587 and 1879. The first church, designed by Italian Jesuit priest-architect Gianantonio Campioni, was constructed in 1587 and dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola. The funds for the construction came from oidor Don Gabriel de Ribera. It was made of wood with a tile roof and was completed in 1632. The second church, made of stone, was constructed from 1590 to 1596 following the plans of Antonio Sedeño and was dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. It was damaged by an earthquake in 1600. In 1626, the third church was constructed and dedicated again to St. Ignatius of Loyola. The church was completed in 1632. Due to the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Philippines, the church slowly deteriorated from 1768 to 1784. The Seminario de San Carlos managed the church and the adjacent Colegio de Manila in 1784. On 6 September 1852, an earthquake caused major damage to the façade of the church. The flanking bell towers and the lower floor of the nave were the only structures left standing. The site later became a military barracks known as Cuartel de España, which served as the headquarters of the 31st American Infantry Regiment. Second church The plans of the church and its adjacent school were kept at the Jesuit Archives in Manila. However, the plans did not reflect the construction as it was actually built at the former Jesuit compound. In 1879, the Jesuits were authorized to use the stones of the 17th century San Ignacio Church as foundation for the construction of the new church on Calle Arzobispo. Gustave Eiffel designed and supplied the metal framework for the church. Thus confirming the contribution of Eiffel in Philippine church architecture, just not in San Sebastián Church as many believed. The second church, or the fourth attempt of the Jesuits, built for St. Ignatius of Loyola was designed by the architect Félix Roxas Sr., the first recorded Filipino architect in classical and renaissance style.