Dalaguete is a town next to Argao in the southern part of Cebu. It was established as a visita of Carcar in 1690 and eventually made an independent parish in 1711. Construction of the church, dedicated to St. William of Maleval (Feastday: February 10) who was also known as St. William the Great or St. William the Hermit, started in 1802 and finished in 1825.

The facade is divided into three horizontal levels and bears a resemblance with the St. Michael the Archangel church in Argao. The free standing bell tower which was built between 1850-1860 by Fr. Juan Alonso is connected to the southern part of the church via a low structure. This low structure is sometimes referred to as the camarin delos campaneros or the bell ringer’s quarters although in the case of Dalaguete it houses the baptistry.

To the north is the adjoined two-storey rectory of stone. A balcony made of wood, aptly termed as a volada in Philippine colonial church terms, runs the entire length of the second level. At the southern side of the church, behind the bell tower, are the ruins of a mortuario or mortuary chapel which through time have sunk a bit deeper to the ground. Outside the gates near the seashore are the remains of the base of a watchtower built in 1794.

Below: The interiors of the church.

Below: The painted ceilings of the interiors done in 1935 by Canuto Avila, a famous Cebuano sculptor and painter.

Below: Buttresses supporting the walls.

Below: Details of facade: (a) Niche with relieve of St. William, the Spanish Royal Coat of Arms, and seal of the Augustinians; (b) & (c) Floral motifs; (d) Relief of St. Augustine; (e) Relief of a guardian angel.

Below: Details of the main altar retablo (1) and one of the side retablos (2).

Below: What used to be the pipe organ. The pipes are already missing.

Below: The mechanism of the clock at the belfry. All of the parts including the pendulum and the weights are still intact although it is not functional anymore since most of it have been damaged by rust.

Below: (a) The largest bell hanging freely at the middle; (b) the oldest bell dated 1805.