St. James the Great Parish - Muntinlupa City

Located in Cuenca corner Ibaan Streets, Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City, St. James the Great Parish is the main spiritual sanctuary of the Catholic residents of the said exclusive subdivision. 

St. James the Great Parish

St. James the Great Parish History

St. James the Great Parish might look like one of those hundred-year-old baroque-style Spanish Colonial-era churches in the country but it's actually a fairly new structure as it was only constructed in 1993. Regardless, the adjective "great" in its name perfectly describes this church. So, what's great about this church? Aside from its beautiful facade and interior design, its massive size could fit about 500 churchgoers. Due to its beauty and size (this equates to a long walk down the aisle), St. James the Great Parish has become a popular venue for weddings for the rich and famous. As a matter of fact, local TV personalities Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna tied the know here. However, if you're planning to tie the knot in St. James the Great Parish, keep in mind that you need a "great" amount of cash and understanding to pull it off. The management of the church is very strict with regard to many of the wedding details like suppliers, photographers, and even the songs that would be played during your wedding.
St. James the Great Parish - Muntinlupa City


Going back to its interior design, well, it's truly something to admire. It has an arched ceiling with square designs that perfectly complements its well-ornated golden retablo. The retablo has blue lighting that provides it with a dramatic backdrop which adds to its beauty. It's truly something to see.
St. James the Great Parish interior

The right side of the church with its beautiful glass stained windows

The left side of the church with its beautiful glass stained windows

 I got to visit St. James the Great Parish during our 2019 Visita Iglesia. It was the 7th and last of the churches on our pilgrimage list for the year. What I like about the church is its beauty and "exclusivity". Exclusive in the sense that despite being one of the most beautiful churches in Muntinlupa City, it is seldom visited by non-parishioners or non-residents due to the fact that it's located in a very exclusive subdivision (meaning the guards are uber strict). Although there are no rules stopping non-residents to hear mass in St. James the Great Parish, getting there and going out of the subdivision is considered the most challenging aspect of many. Public transportation going to the church is very limited. It would be better to bring your car with you as you'd only have to leave your ID at the gate and tell the guards that you're heading to the church for mass. They'd surely let you in (unless there is no scheduled mass that day). 
St. James the Great Parish Church main retablo

The right side retablo 

The left side retablo

St. James the Great Parish Admission Fee:

It's FREE to enter and explore St. James the Great Parish. 

St. James the Great Parish Mass Schedule:

Monday - Friday: 6:30AM - 7:30AM / 12:15PM - 1:15PM / 6:30PM - 7:30PM
Saturday: 6:30AM - 7:30AM / 12:15PM - 1:15PM / 5:30PM - 6:30PM (anticipated mass)
Sunday: 8AM - 9AM / 10AM - 11AM / 11:30AM - 12:30PM / 4:30PM - 5:30PM / 6PM - 7PM / 7:30PM - 8:30PM

Why visit St. James the Great Parish?

Overall, St. James the Great Parish is a perfect destination for those going on Visita Iglesia but can't leave Metro Manila. It's good to note that it is also one of the largest churches in Muntinlupa City. Lastly, it's also nice to see what the church of the rich and famous looks like.  

Getting to St. James the Great Parish:


The best way to reach it is by car. If you want to visit it via public transportation, then head to Ayala Town Center and ride a taxi to bring you to the church. However, going out would be a challenge if you opt to rent a taxi well unless he's willing to wait. 

 Ratings:
Pilgrim
Cleanliness
Overall rating

Location: Cuenca corner, Ibaan St, Muntinlupa, Kalakhang Maynila, Philippines

Comments

  1. SerenaJuly 25, 2019 at 2:37 AM

    Beautiful historical buildings! Great you're sharing some of these missed jems! Great blog post
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JenRaJuly 25, 2019 at 5:07 AM

    What a beautiful place and I can’t wait to visit.

    With love,
    JenRa

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jeri ReneeJuly 25, 2019 at 1:10 PM

    Wow! Looks like a great place to visit!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Evan PetzerJuly 25, 2019 at 4:24 PM

    Historical buildings just have something about them that is beyond description, thank you for the beautiful photos and article.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glorious HeightsJuly 25, 2019 at 4:32 PM

    Oh it’s a beautiful church would like to visit it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The County GirlJuly 25, 2019 at 8:45 PM

    Quite a beautiful sanctuary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJuly 30, 2019 at 9:13 AM

      Yup. St. James the Great Parish is really one beautiful sanctuary.

      Delete
  7. HealthyFitCoupleJuly 25, 2019 at 11:06 PM

    Such a gorgeous church, looks like a lot of history.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioAugust 1, 2019 at 1:40 PM

      Please do visit St. Jame the Great Parish when you have the time.

      Delete
  8. Carmen | Wellington World TravelsJuly 25, 2019 at 11:48 PM


    i am always amazed with the churches in the Philippines. They are beautifully decorated. It's sad that it's challenging to get inside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioAugust 1, 2019 at 1:41 PM

      That's true Carmen. Some parishes tend to renovate without taking into consideration the history of the church.

      Delete
  9. Glam2GreatnessJuly 25, 2019 at 11:50 PM

    Beautiful. This is really great for weddings. Visita Iglesia - this is such a great tradition.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mohini SinghJuly 26, 2019 at 3:08 AM

    The church is stunning. I love the stained glass windows. Must be a wonderful place for some quiet thinking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioAugust 5, 2019 at 1:15 PM

      It is. =) You'd be amazed when you see it personally.

      Delete
  11. LoritaJuly 26, 2019 at 7:58 AM

    Nice coverage on St James Great Parish! It looks very grand

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sarah MJuly 26, 2019 at 6:55 PM

    It's a humongous church. I would love to see it; looks quite peaceful.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jenn ➳ onehoppymomma.comJuly 27, 2019 at 6:43 AM

    I love visiting churches when we travel because the architecture is so amazing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioAugust 5, 2019 at 1:22 PM

      Same here Jenn. It also shows a unique historical perspective of one country.

      Delete
  14. Elizabeth OJuly 28, 2019 at 3:58 PM

    This church must be the sought after venue for weddings in your country..It looks so grand and magnificent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioAugust 15, 2019 at 9:25 AM

      That's true Elizabeth. =) Some well to do couples choose this church as their wedding venue.

      Delete
  15. AnonymousOctober 30, 2024 at 5:34 PM

    Ganyan pala hitsura sa loob niyan.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

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