Spanish missions in New Mexico
The Spanish Missions in New Mexico were a series of religious outposts established by Franciscan friars under charter from the governments of Spain and New Spain to convert the local Pueblo, Navajo and Apache Indians to Christianity. The missions also aimed to pacify and Hispanicize the natives. The missions introduced European livestock, fruits, vegetables, and small-scale industry into the Southwest region.
History
Fray Marcos de Niza, sent by Coronado, first saw the area now known as New Mexico in 1539. The first permanent settlement was Mission San Gabriel, founded in 1598 by Juan de Oñate near what is now known as the San Juan Pueblo.
Missions
- Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zia
- Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos founded in 17th century, ruins are part of the Pecos National Historical Park
- Mission Nuestra Señora de Purísima Concepción de Quarai founded in 17th century, ruins are part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument[1]
- Mission San Agustín de la Isleta - Built in 1612[2]. See also Isleta Pueblo
- Mission San Buenaventura de Cochiti - Completed in 1628, renovated in the 1960s. See also Cochiti Pueblo
- Mission San Esteban del Rey de Acoma - Established 1629 and completed in 1641, in continuous use since.[3] See also Acoma Pueblo
- Mission San Felipe - Built on the site of a previous church (1706)
- Mission San Gregorio de Abó - Established in 1640 by Fray Francisco Acevedo. Ruins are now part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.[4]
- Mission San Ildefonso - The original mission church was built in 1711, but was later destroyed.[5]
- Mission San Isidro and Mission San Buenaventura de Humanas (Gran Quivira) - the ruins are part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument[6]
- Mission San José de los Jémez - Established in 1621, now in ruins.[7]
- Mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Mexico) - Piro mission, now in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.
- Mission San Lorenzo (Texas) - Established after 1680, now in El Paso, Texas.
- Mission San Antonio de Senecu (Mexico) - built 1682, no remains. Site is at or near present-day Senecu, Mexico.
- Mission Corpus Christi de San Antonio de la Ysleta del Sur (Texas) - built between 1680 and 1682 by Tigua speaking and Spanish refugees of the Pueblo Revolt [8]
- Mission Nuestra Señora de Perpetuo Socorro, today known as the Mission San Miguel - Established in 1598 by Fray Alfonso Benavidez and another Franciscan friar. San Miguel Mission Chapel is said to be the oldest church still in use in the United States.[9]
- Mission Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción de Los Piros de Socorro del Sur (Texas), built between 1680 and 1682 by the Piro, Tano and Jemez peoples who accompanied or were forced to accompany the Spaniards fleeing the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.
- Mission San José de Laguna - built in 1699.[10] See also Laguna Pueblo
- Mission San Lorenzo de Picurís -- established circa 1620.
- Mission Santa Ana - Completed in 1750.[11]
- Mission Santo Domingo - The original mission church was destroyed by flooding of the Rio Grande.[12]
Noted churches that were not missions
External links
References