Various web sites give different versions of the history of this church. This is from a flyer distributed by the docents. The The Baclayon Church was established by Jesuits in 1602. A seminary was added in 1604. The church was destroyed by fire in 1638 and rebuilt in 1670. The Jesuits were expelled in 1768. These photos are mainly for the benefit of an American restoration architect who is restoring a 16th century Jesuit chapel in Maryland, U.S.A.

Baclayon is a community not far from the provincial capitol of Tagbilaran. Baclayon has an unusually large number of historic "ancestral" houses. Unfortunately, both the Church and the houses are under threat from a road expansion project. The road in question is the island's main artery and, as is often the case, the old houses were built close to the road. Even if they are not directly demolished, these houses will be so close to the road as to be virtally uninhabitable. Local residents have protested the destruction of the houses and placed signs on them saying, "ginadila gib-un kine na balay" (don't tear down this house). I hope to go back and document the houses before they are lost.

Digital documentation of Bacalyan Santos at http://digitalmedia.upd.edu.ph/digiteer/santo/santos1a.html