The Spanish Missions in Texas comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans , Jesuits , and Franciscans to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans , but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier land. The missions introduced European livestock , fruits , vegetables , and industry into the Texas region. In addition to the presidio (fort) and pueblo (town), the misión was one of the three major agencies employed by the Spanish crown to extend its borders and consolidate its colonial territories. In all, twenty-six missions were maintained for different lengths of time within the future boundaries of the state.
Since 1493, Spain had maintained a number of missions throughout New Spain ( Mexico and portions of what today are the Southwestern United States ) in order to facilitate colonization of these lands. The East Texas missions were a direct response to fear of French encroachment when the remains of La Salle's Fort Saint Louis were discovered near Matagorda Bay in 1689.
Following government policy, Franciscan missionaries sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages and Spanish culture. In order to become Spanish citizens and productive inhabitants, native americans learned vocational skills. As plows , farm implements, and gear for horses , oxen , and mules fell into disrepair, blacksmithing skills soon became indispensable. Weaving skills were needed to help clothe the inhabitants. As buildings became more elaborate, mission occupants learned masonry and carpentry under the direction of craftsmen contracted by the missionaries.
In the closely supervised setting of the mission the Indians were expected to mature in Christianity and Spanish political and economic practices until they would no longer require special mission status. Then their communities could be incorporated as such into ordinary colonial society. This transition from official mission status to ordinary Spanish society, when it occurred in an official manner, was called "secularization." In this official transaction, the mission's communal properties were privatized, the direction of civil life became a purely secular affair, and the direction of church life was transferred from the missionary religious orders to the Catholic diocesan church. Although colonial law specified no precise time for this transition to take effect, increasing pressure for the secularization of most missions developed in the last decades of the eighteenth century.
This mission system was developed in response to the often very detrimental results of leaving the Hispanic control of relations with Indians on the expanding frontier to overly enterprising civilians and soldiers. This had resulted too often in the abuse and even enslavement of the Indians and a heightening of antagonism.
In the end, the mission system was not politically strong enough to protect the Indians against the growing power of ranchers and other business interests that sought control over mission lands and the manpower represented by the Indians. In the first few years of the new Republic of Mexico-between 1824 and 1830-all the missions still operating in Texas were officially secularized, with the sole exception of those in the El Paso district, which were turned over to diocesan pastors only in 1852. (see The Texas Handbook On line: Spanish Missions.)
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Spanish missions in Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Capilla de San Elcear was never a mission, rather it was a presidio chapel, providing for the religious needs of a presidio, or outpost of military personnel. The presidio was moved to the present site in 1789, to protect travelers and settlers along the Camino Real, (King's HIghway) which ran through El Paso to Santa Fe. It is close to the Ysleta and Socorro missions so it provided protection for them as well.
When Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, the military presence at the presidio decreased. By 1848, the presidio had fallen into ruins. Rebuilding efforts began in 1853, with a small church.This proved inadequate, and the present structure was completed in 1882. The exterior is little changed from that time.
The official name is San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo. It is one of the five missions in San Antonio. It is easily the most impressive of the Texas missions. It was known, even in the mission period as "Queen of the Missions".
The substantial mission grounds, including the church shown here, were surrounded by stone walls, some 14 feet high. Residences for the missionaries and the Indians were built into the walls.
Founded in 1720, it is the second oldest of the San Antonio missions. The church and the entire compound were completed in 1782. The mission fell into partial ruins, with the collapse of the dome in 1873. Resotration and rebuilding were done in the 1920s and 1930s, with rededication in 1937. San Jose is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Mission Nuestra Senora de Limpia Concepcion de los Piros de Socorro del Sur is located near the Yselta mission, just south of El Paso, and shares much of the history. The first church was started in 1684, completed in 1692, and destroyed by flood in 1740. It was replaced in 1744, destroyed in 1828, and finally replaced in 1843.
It was operated as a mission by the Franciscans until it was secularized in 1852. It has since been a parish church.
This is another view of Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, from a rear quarter. It shows the bell tower, the dome, and part of the ruins of the convento. Click here for a better view of the convento.
San Jose is an active parish church, and is under a joint management of the parish and the National Park Service. Masses and other church activities are held frequently. It is a favorite venue for weddings also. Photographers should avoid Saturday afternoons unless they want people in the photographs - lots of people, and many in spectacular costumes.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada was originally founded as San Francisco de los Tejas in east Texas in1690, making it the first mission in Texas. It did not prosper, however, and was moved to the present site in 1731. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756.
Espada is the southernmost of the San Antonio missions, and is still in a somewhat rural setting. However, it will not be long before the city surrounds it.
As with the other San Antonio missions (excluding the Alamo) this is an active parish church. The wooden cross is a symbol of the cross that was carried by parishoners in times of drought, when they prayed for rain.
The first church of Corpus Christi de la Isleta del Sur was completed in 1692. However, there had been religous activity in the area for ten years previously, ministering to the Franciscan missionaries, Spanish settlers and Tigua and Pueblo Indians who were refugees from the Pueblo revolt of 1680 in northern New Mexico.
This is the oldest continuously-operating church in the present United States. However, it did not go smoothly. Flood waters from the Rio Grande destroyed the first church in 1740. A new structure was completed on the same site in 1744. In 1829, this was washed away also. Using portions of the old structure, and moving to somewhat higher ground, the 3rd church was completed in 1851, and the silver dome was added in the 1880s. It is now named Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Mission San Juan Capistrano was originally founded in east Texas in 1716. It was transferred to the present site in 1756. A church, friary and granary were built. A larger church was started, but never completed. The foundation of this larger church is still visible.
This building serves as a parish church, while maintenance and guiding of visitors is done by the National Park Service.
Mission Espiritu Santo de Zuniga was originally established in 1722 on the site of LaSalle's Ft. St Louis, near the present Port Lavaca. In 1749, the mission, and the associated presidio, were moved to their present locations, near Goliad, some 40 miles.
Structures included the church, granary, living quarters and outer walls. These were composed of large dressed stone blocks, the only such stuctures among the Texas missions. The mission was closed in 1830 by the Mexican government, and building materials were taken from the mission for use in local residences.
Reconstruction on the original foundations was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps, based on archeological and historical research. The structures are now owned and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
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This extraordinary series of Mission San Jose was generously submitted to our site by talented photographer Dave Bryant. We owe a debt of gratitude to Dave for his his continued support of our efforts to make this site a source of beauty and fascination.
Old church in Stephenville, Texas. Taken by Leo Mays using a Nikon L1.
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Sony A200 in shutter priority at 2.500s, ISO 100, f/3.5 with an 18-70mm lens from a tripod. |
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Weatherford Courthouse |
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Gene Merrill |
