Paoay Church
| Paoay Church | |
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| San Agustin Church of Paoay Iglesia de San Agustín de Paoay |
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The façade and bell tower of Paoay Church
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 Paoay Church
Location within the Philippines
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| 18°3′41.5″N 120°31′17.5″E / 18.061528°N 120.521528°ECoordinates: 18°3′41.5″N 120°31′17.5″E / 18.061528°N 120.521528°E | |
| Location | Paoay, Ilocos Norte |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1686 |
| Founder(s) | Padre Antonio Estavillo |
| Dedication | Saint Augustine of Hippo |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | National Cultural Treasure, UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Designated | 1973, 1993 |
| Architect(s) | Padre Antonio Estavillo |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Earthquake Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1694 |
| Completed | 1710 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 110 metres (360 ft) |
| Width | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Number of domes | None |
| Materials | Coral stone and bricks |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Nueva Segovia |
| Diocese | Laoag |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Marlo Mendoza Peralta |
| Bishop(s) | Renato P. Mayugba |
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |||||
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| Location |
Philippines 
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| Criteria | ii, iv | ||||
| Reference | 677 | ||||
| Coordinates | 18°03′41″N 120°31′18″E / 18.06148°N 120.52159°E | ||||
| Inscription | 1993 (17th Session) | ||||
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Location of Paoay Church
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The Saint Augustine Church (Spanish: Iglesia de San Agustín de Paoay), commonly known as the Paoay Church, is the Roman Catholic church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.
The earliest historical record of the area dates back to 1593, becoming an Augustinian independent parish in 1686. Building of the present church was started in 1694 by Augustinian friar Father Antonio Estavillo, completed in 1710 and rededicated in 1896. Some portions of the church was damaged in the 1865 and 1885 earthquake but was later restored under the initiative of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
Paoay church is the Philippines' primary example of a Spanish colonial earthquake baroque architecture dubbed by Alicia Coseteng, an interpretation of the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country through the use of enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. The adaptive reuse of baroque style against earthquake is developed since many destructive earthquakes destroyed earlier churches in the country. Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java can also be seen on the church walls and facade.
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