The oldest parish in Negros Oriental is the Tanjay parish established in 1580. But as the population of Dumaguete increased substantially to justify having its own parish, Dumaguete became independent of the Tanjay parish in 1620. Its first priest was Fr. Juan de Roa y Herrera, and Dumaguete became the center upon which the missions of Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita and Tolong depended for their administration and supervision. A notable priest who served the Dumaguete parish from 1754 to 1776, or for a period of 22 years, was Fr. Fernandez de Setein. Unable to return to Spain, he decided to carry on with his religious work in Dumaguete. Under his pastoral ministry, the Church, parochial convent (considered the most beautiful and spacious in the province), fortress, watchtowers, and a massive wall of over two meters in height were constructed.
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