Church

Entering the church from the plaza side (main door) you see down its length to the altar. As mission churches go, this one is better lit. Natural light from the seating area to the right of the altar contributes much of this light (although the interior lights were also on, which helped).

Picture taken 3:05pm 8 Jul 2001

There are no original decorations but the pattern on the rear wall is of the type one might have found originally. It was discovered under the wood interior that had been added to the church and then stripped off during the 1934 restoration. The side statues, while not original, are early mission-era art.

Picture taken 1:25pm 8 Jul 2001

Picture taken 1:25pm 8 Jul 2001

Picture taken 1:25pm 8 Jul 2001

Other art found in the church dates to the 1800s. You'll find both paintings and statuary. Look around as some exists in alcoves off the main body of the church and the seating area to the right of the altar.

Mary Picture taken 1:30pm 8 Jul 2001	Sacred Heart Picture taken 1:30pm 8 Jul 2001		St. Jude Picture taken 1:30pm 8 Jul 2001
Our Lady of Fatima Picture taken 1:30pm 8 Jul 2001		Mary with Jesus Picture taken 1:30pm 8 Jul 2001
Picture taken 1:30pm 8 Jul 2001

While you are visiting the church, also make note of the side tabernacle.

Picture taken 1:25pm 8 Jul 2001

And, don't forget to look down. As with most mission churches some of the padres who served the church are buried there. This particular crypt holds the remains of Padre Luis Gil y Taboada who visited the Mission 18 Nov 1815 and served as pastor there 20 Dec 1831 to 21 Nov 1833.

Picture taken 1:30pm 8 Jul 2001

Added 2004: On a visit to the Mission for a concert I noted a restored statue of Saint Louis of Toulouse added to the left wall by the altar. On asking I found that the statue had just been restored. The restorer found the original to have been made with black gloves so these were left on the Bishop's hands. The miter, which normally would be on a Bishop's head, is a later addition to the statue and so was left at the Bishop's feet. The statue itself is said, at five feet high, to be life-sized. It is carved from wood, coated with gesso, gilded with gold leaf, painted and fitted with glass eyes. During restoration two prior "restorations" had to be removed to find the original. (Ref: Kenyon, Carol, "Conservation of Mission Art". Boletín, The Journal of The California Mission Studies Association, Vol 20, No 1, 2003, pp. 37-49.)

Picture taken 6:40pm 13 Feb 2004

That completes the tour of the inside of the Mission.

Exit the church by the left side entrance and tour the garden next...