The chain of missions established along the San Antonio River in the 18th century is a reminder of Spain's attempts to extend its dominion northward from New Spain (present-day Mexico). Collectively they form the largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America. The Spanish concentrated their efforts on spreading the Catholic faith to Native Americans along the frontier of New Spain. Financially supported by the Crown, Franciscan missions served both Church and State. As an arm of the church, the mission was the vanguard of the spiritual conversion of Indians. As an agent of the state, the mission helped push the empire northward. For the Indians, the missions offered sanctuary from their enemies. What follows are pictures of some these Spanish missions along the Mission Trail in San Antonio today.*
The mission of Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion was relocated from East Texas in 1731.
Concepcion: The church looks essentially as it did in the mid-1700s when it served as the mission's center of
religious activity.
The dome: Looking up at the
dome form the alter.
Interior of Concepcion: The alter of the mission directly below the dome.
In 1720 Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus founded what became the best know of the Texas missions. Viewed as a model of mission organization, San Jose was a major social center. The unique architecture of its church and richness of its fields and pastures led visitors to comment of its beauty. It was called the "Queen of the Missions."
A southern view of San Jose: From this view one can see the convento, garden and the dome above the alter.
Front view of San Jose: From this view it is possible to see stone craving of Saints to the side and above the front door of San Jose.
Rear view of San Jose: From this view it is possible to see the massive stone work that the Coahuiltecans Indians did to build the missions and the walled grounds.
The Dome: This picture is from what was the garden looking at the convento and the dome above the alter.
Coahuiltecans Indian Quarters: The mission was laid out as a large square with the plaza in the middle and Indian quarters creating three of the sides of the square. The Indians would live at the Mission and go out to the fields to raise crops. Orchards and gardens outside the walls provided peaches, melons, pumpkins, grapes, and peppers. Corn, beans, sweet potatoes, squash, and sugar cane were grown in irrigated fields.
Indian Quarters: The Indian quarters formed the walls of the mission complex. Because of the threat of raids by the Apache and Comanche Indians, mission residents learned to use firearms to protect themselves. This training, along with the imposing walls, discouraged enemy attacks.
Spanish Quarters: The Spanish quarters bordered the west wall of the San Jose plaza. This picture shows a corner fireplace.
Ceiling of the Spanish Quarters: Vigas (beams) and latillias created the ceiling with dirt and mud covered the latillias. Some type of cloth was put breathe the ceiling to catch dirt that would fall from the ceiling.
San Juan Capistrano was originally established as San Jose de los Nazonis in East Texas. In 1731, it was relocated to its permanent home on the east bank of the San Antonio River. By mid-century, San Juan, with its rich farm and pasturelands , was a regional supplier of agricultural produce. Orchards and gardens outside the walls provided peaches, melons, pumpkins, grapes, and peppers. Corn, beans, sweet potatoes, squash, and sugar cane were grown in irrigated fields. In 1762, Mission San Juan's herds were reported to include 3500 sheep and nearly as many cattle.
The San Antonio missions were not only self-sufficient, but also supported area settlements and the nearby presidio (fort). In good times they traded surplus goods to others. This thriving economy helped the missions to survive epidemics and warfare.
Front view of San Juan: The church at San Juan is smaller than some of the other missions. San Juan has the three bell tower like Espada.
Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus: This is a statue of Fray Antonio who also founded San Jose mission. The plate below states "Apostoic Missionary and Friendly Promotor of Total Development of the Native American Indians."
Santo of Christ: The missionaries strove to replace traditional Indian ritual with religious festivals teaching Christian beliefs. Carvings of saints and objects of adoration were popular representation of Catholicism among the Indians.
Santo of Christ Morality plays and religious celebrations were common methods of instruction. Missionaries recognized conversions when Indians took the sacraments. While some conversions were temporary at best, the combination of religious training and pageantry was on the whole, successful.
Founded as San Francisco de los Tejas in 1690, the oldest of the East Texas missions was moved to the San Antonio River in 1731 and renamed San Francisco de la Espada (Saint Francisco of the Sword) . The southern most of the San Antonio chain of missions, Espada appears almost as remote today as it did in the mid-1700s.
Espada: This is the front view of the three bells tower.
Alter and Santos of Espada: Today the church serves as the heart of a small community.
Rancho de las Cabras: In addition to the land necessary for the mission's compound, each mission was granted land for ranching. Espada's grazing lands became know as Rancho de las Cabras, the Goat Ranch. A ranch headquarters compound was built sometime after 1758. These structures housed the Indian vaqueros (cowboys) and their families who maintained the herds.
Las Cabras, located within 30 miles of Espada, provided livestock for the inhabitants of the mission. The vaqueros oversaw the herds, allowing the missionary to concentrate on his primary duty: that of educating and converting the native inhabitants.
All of the mission ranches started to decline in the 1770s, when Apaches increased their raids. All unbranded cattle became the property of the crown in 1778, and the vast herds were reduced to several hundred head. With secularization of the missions in the late 1700s and early 1800s, the ranchlands passed into the hands of former mission inhabitants and settlers.
National Park Service Site: If you are interested in more information on the San Antonio Missions, the National Park Service has a very good site.
*Most of the information that is on this site has come from the National Parks Service. All the pictures on the site were taken by Mickey White.
