Recognised as the largest parish in the Bulacan, Philippines and one of the oldest parishes in the province, the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church or better known as Meycauayan Church, is the seat of the vicariate of St. Francis of Assisi in the Diocese of Malolos.

Founded in the year 1578 by the first batch of Franciscan priests, the first church was but a small chapel made of nipa thatch and bamboo, later blown away by a typhoon in 1588. By the year 1589, the second church was built out of stone and adobe by the decree of the “Superior Govierno”, the first newspaper published in the Philippines. Unlike the churches in Manila, the Meycauayan Church survived destruction in the Second World War, however, the church was destroyed by the Great fire of Meycauayan in the year 1949. Statues, records, ciboriums, church vestments, chalices and the retablo in the Colonial style were all destroyed. Few items such as the tabernacle were the ones saved from the fire. The church then had major reconstructions after the war.

It is also worth noting that it is with Meycauayan Church, the 9th President of the Philippines, Diosdado Macapagal and former Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg were married. Be sure to visit when you’re at the vicinity of Meycauayan!