Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands

Nicolás Zamora y Villegas was the first Filipino Protestant minister, well-known in Filipino and American evangelical circles. He was also the founder and pastor of what is now the Knox Memorial Church. His father, Don Paulino Zamora, had been exiled from the colony for possession of a Bible, while Don Paulino's uncle, Father Jacinto Zamora, was one of the Gomburza priests who had been executed in 1872 by the Spaniards for supposed participation in the Cavite Mutiny.

When approached by Ang Katotohanan, Zamora accepted the leadership against the advice and importuning of the Americans. After some preparation, the group established the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas on 28 February 1909. Their vision and motivation was faith in God's providence, and belief that the Filipino was capable of erecting a self-sustaining, autonomous, and self-propagating evangelical church.

The fledgling Church quickly grew in numbers, spreading rapidly in Manila and its surrounding provinces. Bishop Zamora suddenly died on 14 September 1914, and Alejandro H. Reyes succeeded him. Reyes' successor was Victoriano Mariano who, aside from continuing the evangelisation programme from 1921 to 1926, also focused on Christian education. He saw to it that the laity knew what Church membership was all about, earning him the moniker “Father of Religious Education.” Francisco Gregorio's administration from 1926 to 1939 aimed to consolidate and build upon the achievements of his predecessors with the view to fortifying Church organisation. Bishop Gregorio initiated the formulation of the IEMELIF's own Discipline, based upon the Methodist Episcopal Discipline, which the Church had been using with minor adaptations until then. The first Central Temple was also built during this time in Tondo, at the site of the present Cathedral; the Central Temple was destroyed by fire in 1941.

During the Second World War, the occupying Japanese authorities wanted all Protestant churches consolidated into what is now the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Bishop Matias B. Valdez, the Church's General Superintendent from 1939 to 1947, together with Bishop Dionisio D. Alejandro of the Methodist Church, firmly stood against the plan, whereas other churches yielded.

Bishop Eusebio Tech's administration (1947–1952) saw the democratisation of the Church. The Discipline was revised to create of the Supreme Consistory of Elders, a board that became the legislative body of the Church, whilst the General Superintendent became the head of the Episcopacy, an organ which was tasked with administration.

The brief term of Bishop Marcelino C. Gutierrez (1952–1953) saw important contributions in the organisation of the Ministerial and Lay Workers Institute as a permanent agency of the Church. The Institute, which in 1991 became the present IEMELIF Bible College, trains the ministers, deaconesses, and other lay workers of the Church. Bishop Lázaro G. Trinidad's leadership (1953–1972) saw rapid progress; it was during this time that the Cathedral was finally rebuilt. The Church also introduced the then-innovative central fund system, and formalised relationships with both local and foreign religious groups.

Bishop Gerónimo P. Maducdoc took over as General Superintendent from 1972 to 1980. His administration was marked by greater participation of the laity in Church administration, with the inclusion of two laymen in the Supreme Consistory, which until then had been composed of only ministers. Among its other achievements were the Pagasa Trust Fund, intended to finance the social security needs of the Church; The Church Building Construction fund, to help in emergency needs for church construction; the Manpower Development Program, to train both ministers and laymen in religious, financial and social fields; and the evangelisation program dubbed “Eighty by 1980”.

Bishop George F. Castro took over as the tenth General Superintendent in 1980. The thrust of his administration was to adapt the Church to the changing times, to improve Church administration, to enhance evangelistic efforts, and to improve the professional and economic situation of ministers and Church workers. The IEMELIF also became more outgoing, participating in both local and international meetings and fellowships.

In 1992, the IEMELIF began experiencing some issues within its episcopal offices, which led to the secession of some 105 local churches and ministers forming what is now known as the IEMELIF Reform Movement (IRM), led by Bishop Reynaldo C. Domingo. The IRM initially referred to the original body as "IEMELIF Admin", which signifies acknowledgement of administration by the latter. In 2009, the two factions celebrated the IEMELIF's centennial in separate locations. The IEMELIF Admin held a programme at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, while the IRM held theirs at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

In late 2011, the IRM completed its schism from the IEMELIF and is now registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the I am Redeemer and Master Evangelical Church (IRMEC), leaving only one IEMELIF in the whole of the Philippines. IEMELIF maintains its membership to the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, while IRMEC joined the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches.

Bishop Nathanael P. Lázaro was elected as the eleventh General Superintendent in 2000. Imbued with administrative abilities, he caused significant changes in the organisation and administration of the Church to make it more "attuned to the Great Commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in the Gospels." His efforts led to the overall amendment of the IEMELIF Book of Discipline in 2007.

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  Upper façade
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  Narthex and Choir loft
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  West end of the cathedral
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  Right transept with balcony
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  The nave
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  Left Pulpit
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  Altar and sanctuary
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  Pews with carved woodwork
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  Iron hanging lamp