San Francisco Temple

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The San Francisco Temple is one of the main Catholic places of worship in the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. It is now recognized as one of the most valuable buildings in the city as one of the few still existing colonial monuments in all the urban zone.

Even though it is named San Francisco (because a previous name of the city of Chihuahua was San Francisco El Cuellar) and because it was occupied first by Franciscans it is actually occupied by the order of the Dominicans. Its architecture is from typical style of franciscan missions, very simple and serene, and always painted in white colours in accord with the Franciscans policy of austerity.

[edit] History

It was one of the first churches in Chihuahua City. Construction was begun around the year of 1715 and it also served as the first junior school for ladies in Chihuahua. In 1811 the beheaded body of Fr.Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was intombed in one of the two chapels of the temple; after the independence of Mexico, it was taken to Mexico City.

In 2004 the Temple of San Francisco was first illuminated for the celebrations of the independence of Mexico, 16 September. As of 2007 it is still an active place of worship.