Cosmopolitan Church
14°34′44.6″N 120°59′13.2″E / 14.579056°N 120.987000°E
| UCCP Cosmopolitan Church | |
|---|---|
| United Church of Christ in The Philippines Cosmopolitan Church | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | 1368 Taft Avenue Corner Apacible Street, Ermita, Manila |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | UCCP |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1933 |
| Events | Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942-1944) Battle of Manila (1945) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | active |
| Heritage designation | Cultural Property of the Philippines |
| Completed | 1936, 1945 (rebuilt) |
| Demolished | 1945 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of floors | 4 |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Rev. Callum Tabada (as of 2016)[1] |
 | |
The UCCP Cosmopolitan Church is a Protestant church in Manila, Philippines.
History
[edit]
Establishment
[edit]The Cosmopolitan Church's establishment traces back to the 1930s when 60 members of the Central Methodist Church at Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila seceded from the American Methodist Episcopal Church in March 1933. The secession was led by Rev. Cipriano Navarro, Dr. Melquiades Gamboa, and Rev. Samuel Stagg who were instrumental to the creation of the Philippine Methodist Episcopal Church which in turn led to the establishment of the Cosmopolitan Student Church.[2]
World War II
[edit]The Cosmopolitan Church building was established in 1936. From 1942-1944 the Church building was used as a base of operations by Church members who were also part of the anti-Japanese guerilla resistance forces during the World War II. The Church building was eventually seized by the Japanese in September 1944. The Church building was rebuilt in 1945 after the building was burnt during the Battle of Manila.[3]
Becoming part of the UCCP
[edit]In 1948 Cosmopolitan Church, of the then Philippine Methodist Church, became part of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.[3]
During the Marcos dictatorship
[edit]In 1975, then-Pastor Cirilo A. Rigos, along with senator Jovito Salonga, organized the Paglingap Ministry to Political Detainees, which interceded for the release of political prisoners and offered financial aid to their families during the administration of then President Ferdinand Marcos under Martial Law. More than 90 detainees were freed through the effort of Rigos and Salonga's organization after five years.[4]
Contemporary events
[edit]In 2012, some members of the Cosmopolitan Church led by then Pastor Phoebe Dacanay disaffiliated from the UCCP.[2]
Building
[edit]
The church currently occupies a four-story building called the Rigos Hall. The Rigos Hall was named after by Martial Law era pastor Dr. Cirilio A. Rigos on May 15, 1996.[5] The naming was an effect of the ratification of a Special Church Council Resolution.[5]
The Mary Boyd Stagg Memorial Sanctuary inside the Rigos Hall is a worship place where worship services by the Church is conducted. In 1999 in the event of the 66th anniversary of the Cosmopolitan Church, eight panels of stained glass were installed at the memorial sanctuary.[6]
A chapel inaugurated on January 6, 1978, the Angela Valdez Ramos Memorial Chapel is located within church grounds dedicated to Angela Ramos, for her role in the church's Sunday School.[7] A courtyard, the Founder's Garden is also located within church grounds in between the chapel and Memorial Sanctuary.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Church Admin". Cosmopolitan Church. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ a b "History - Our Beginnings". Cosmopolitan Church. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- ^ a b Cosmopolitan Church (Plaque outside building). At the entrance of Cosmopolitan Church in Manila: Philippine National Historical Institute. 2005.
- ^ "The life, love and struggles of Jovito Salonga".
- ^ a b Rigos Hall (Marker inside building). Lobby of the Cosmopolitan Church in Manila: Cosmopolitan Church. June 24, 1996.
- ^ Thanksgiving Marker (Marker inside building). Mary Boyd Stagg Memorial Sanctuary, Cosmopolitan Church in Manila: Cosmopolitan Church. March 21, 1996.
- ^ The Angela Valdez Ramos Memorial Chapel (Marker inside building). Angela Valdez Ramos Memorial Chapel: Cosmopolitan Church. January 6, 1978.
- ^ Founder's Garden (Marker). Founder's Garden: Cosmopolitan Church. n.d.