San Vicente Ferrer Church (Sabtang)

Sabtang Church
San Vicente de Ferrer Church
The facade of Sabtang Church
Location	Sabtang, Batanes
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church building
Groundbreaking	1844
Administration
Archdiocese	Tuguegarao
Diocese	Prelature of Batanes
Clergy
Archbishop	Sergio Utleg
Bishop(s)	Camilo Diaz Gregorio

San Vicente Ferrer Church, also known as Sabtang Church, is a Roman Catholic church located near Sabtang Port in Sabtang, Batanes, Philippines. Originally a small chapel in 1785 when the Sabtang mission first opened by the Dominicans, the church underwent few modifications until 1984. A short distance to the right of the church's façade stands a pedestal with a stone statue of Saint Vincent Ferrer, the patron saint of the parish and of the municipality.

The church, convent and site of the beaterio was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2008.

Sabtang was recognized as a mission vicariate in 1844, more than a century after the forced evacuation of the Isabtangs following the execution of the local datu Aman Dangat of Malacdang for alleged murder of the Cagayano agents sent by the Spaniards to the island in 1791 to procure supplies. When the Isabtangs transferred to Ivana, the church was left neglected.

Father Antonio Vicente became the first vicar of the resettlement when Sabtang was re-established in 1844 and he began the construction of a church made of lime and stone together with the attached convent in that same year. Between 1869 and 1876, many constructions took place not only in the church but also in its immediate surroundings. Under Father Rafael Cano, the side altar of Our Lady of the Rosary was created, a guest room was added inside the convent, a school house for children was constructed, and a seawall fronting the seaport was made. In October 1956, the belfry, described as “curvaceous” and “original”, was blown down by a hurricane. A new one was later put in place under Fr. Gumersindo Hernandez in that same year. In 1983 to 1984, the cogon roofing of the church was replaced by galvanized iron sheets by Father Rafael Carpintero, OP. The same roofing modification was applied to the convent the following year. The following year, red brick tiles forming the flooring of the sanctuary was replaced by cement.