SIMBAHANG BATO

SIMBAHANG BATO

BANCURO, NAUJAN, ORIENTAL MINDORO

The Bancuro Church Ruins, popularly known as the Simbahang Bato is located in Brgy. Bancurro in Naujan. The Simbahang Bato is an ancient, roofless ruin of a church and priory built during the 17th century. In early 1600s, the Augustinian priests established their first settlement here in Barangay Bancuro in Naujan to evangelize the natives. By the 17th century they built it a church with stone walls that served as the house of worship and at the same time as a fort and a place of refuge against the Moro invaders. Unfortunately, in 1824 the Moros were able to conquer it and burned the fort. For centuries, the church had lain in ruins, its interiors have all gone but its majestic charm remains. Bushes have grown along the edges but the stones are still there, intact as if proclaiming that it will still be there for upcoming generations to see and revel. This is not just a church, not just some ruins and an archaeological site, this is the town’s history.

A small chapel is now located within its massive walls, earning its moniker “a church within a church”. It is now one of the most famous tourist destinations in Naujan and home to college students doing archaeological digs, is accessible via a 45-minute jeepney ride from the town proper.