INC Central Temple

The Iglesia ni Cristo Central Temple (Filipino: Templo Central[3]) is a main temple of the Philippine-based Christian religion, the Iglesia ni Cristo. Located along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, it was completed on July 27, 1984, and is the biggest church/place of worship in the whole country for all religions as per the dimensions are concerned with a capacity of around 7,000 people.[4][5]

Iglesia ni Cristo Central Temple
Templo Central (Filipino)
The INC Central Temple
Location	New Era, Quezon City
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Iglesia ni Cristo
History
Status	Central Temple[1]
Architecture
Functional status	active
Architect(s)	Carlos A. Santos-Viola
Completed	July 27, 1984
Specifications
Capacity	7,000
Number of spires	22 (6 major spires)
Administration
District	Central[2]

History

In the late 1940s, Brethren from Pasay City who worked and lived at the then newly built Balara Filtration Plant Compound requested the Church Administration for a Group Worship Service. The request was granted by Bro. Felix Manalo for the spiritual welfare of the members there. Years Later in one of Brethren's homes, a separate Locale Congregation which encompasses Barrio Balara, UP Complex and parts of Sitio Tumana in Marikina was established in August, 1948 as the Locale of Balara. Later on, a chapel was built at Balara Compound nearest the residence. As membership grew in Diliman and Various parts of Quezon City, the Balara Congregation was Renamed Diliman Locale and transferred to a Lot purchased by the Church in 1979 at 1. Luzon Avenue, to accommodate more space for worshipping brethren.

As Diliman Congregation continued to grew, as planned by Brother Eraño Manalo, the local congregation was planned to be granted an even bigger home. By 1983, a lot just meters from the Church's Central Office grounds along Commonwealth Avenue which the Church had earlier purchased during the office's construction was turned into the site of not just the local's new chapel, but also the principal place of worship of INC members not just from the Philippines and all over the globe, a gift to the Church in time for its 70th anniversary in 1984.

On July 27, 1984, as part of the church-wide festivities of the 70th anniversary of the Church's formal birth, the Central Temple was officially inaugurated. The Central Temple was dedicated by Bro. Eraño Manalo with thousands of members worldwide in attendance. With the formal opening of the Temple, Dillman Locale was later renamed to the name it carries up to today - the Locale of Central Temple, also known as Templo Central. 5 years later, the Temple complex was expanded to include the Pavilion and the INC Tabernacle, which not only serve as overflow for additional visitors for worship services and evangelical missions, but also act as events centers where Church-organized events are held. The former Chapel at Luzon Avenue was later spun off into an independent congregation serving members who live in its vicinity.

As a result of the growing number of brethren who frequented the Temple for worship services, the Central Temple Locale later saw the creation of new locals within its vicinity, namely New Era Housing in 2015, Sagana in 2016, New Era University in 2017 and Doña Faustina in 2018. It is today the seat of the Central Eccleasiastical District, which serves the thousands of Church members who live within the area and the congregations that surround it.

Features

Built on complex of the INC Central Office, the Temple was erected fifteen years after the completion of the Central Office. It was designed to hold around 7,000 worshipers, accommodating some 3,000 in the main hall and 1,900 in its two side chapels. In addition, the ground floor sanctuary, connected to the main hall by video circuit, can accommodate an excess crowd of around 2,000. The sanctuary has a large baptistery pool designed for the simultaneous baptism of up to 600 people.[6]

In 2014, a 20-ton pipe organ with 3,162 individual pipes custom made by American firm A.E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company, was installed within the period of 14 months in time for the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Central Temple on July 27. The organ was first played during the special worship service held on July 5, 2014.[5]

While standing both as seat of the Central District and the principal chapel of the Church, under its latter role also the eccesiastical seat of the Executive Minister, it is organized in a similar manner as other locales, led by a Church-appointed resident minister, assisted by other ministers, assigned evangelical workers and lay staff.

Gallery

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References

1. Reed, Robert (2001). "The Iglesia ni Cristo, 1914-2000. From obscure Philippine faith to global belief system". KITLV, Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies. 157 (3): 570. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012.
2. "Templo Central". INC Directory. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
3. "Mabuhay ang Iglesia ni Cristo" (in Filipino). Remate. July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
4. "Iglesia Ni Cristo SF Post Special Supplement" (PDF). The San Francisco Post. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
5. "Glorious hymn-singing to God in INC's Central Temple "complemented" by new one-of-a kind pipe organ". Eagle News. 7 Jul 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
6. Reed, Robert (2001). "The Iglesia ni Cristo, 1914-2000. From obscure Philippine faith to global belief system". KITLV, Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies. 157 (3): 580. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012.

External links

• INC Central Temple at Emporis