Jaro Evangelical Church
| Jaro Evangelical Church | |
|---|---|
| The First Baptist Church in the Philippines (First Protestant Church Outside Manila) | |
| 10°41′24″N 122°33′0″E / 10.69000°N 122.55000°E | |
| Location | Jaro, Iloilo City, Iloilo |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Protestant Baptist |
| Associations | Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches |
| Website | https://jaroevangelicalchurch.org |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1900 (First church structure and founding of the organization) |
| Founder(s) | Eric Lund |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | American Colonial, semi-gothic |
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The Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC) is a Baptist church in Jaro, Philippines, affiliated with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches. Founded in 1900, it is the first Baptist Church in the Philippines (first Protestant church outside Manila).
The church became a catalyst in founding the Central Philippine University (CPU), the first Baptist and second American university in the Philippines and in Asia, established through the benevolent grant of American industrialist and philanthropist, John D. Rockefeller in 1905.
The church, which is adjacent to Plaza Jaro (Graciano Lopez-Jaena Park), is part of the Plaza Jaro Heritage Tourism Zone.
The Jaro Evangelical Church is associated with the CPU College of Theology, the first Baptist theological seminary in the country; and maintains affiliation with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches and the American Baptist Churches USA.