Under new governmental direction, the Mission faced continued decline. In , Governor Pio Pico sold the Mission itself. For the next 20 years, the Mission was a private ranch property of the Forster family. California became a state in Starting in the s and throughout the early s, artists, photographers, and visionaries took interest in the missions.
Many community leaders joined the campaign for restoration. The town of San Juan Capistrano welcomes visitors from all parts of the world to witness the return of the swallows, a tradition that has been celebrated since the early s. The birds were darting back and forth through the air squealingover the destruction of their homes. Come to the Mission. Join us for St. He had over 15 years of administrative and missionary experience in various parts of Mexico, including the Sierra Gorda.
Although Saint Serra was in his fifties and suffered from a chronic ulcerated condition in his leg when he was assigned to oversee the missions, he had uncompromising optimism in his efforts to convert Native Americans and colonize California.
He died and was buried at his headquarters Mission Carmel, just outside of Monterey. World Monuments Fund placed San Juan Capistrano Mission on the Watch in and provided a grant to stabilize and conserve the vestry.
Once an architectural survey was conducted and a master plan was drafted, the project progressed, resulting in the systematic restoration of the Great Stone Church. In addition to WMF, financial support was provided by the state government, various community organizations, and private donors. This 18th century Spanish mission, now a state landmark, lies at the heart of the modern town of San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, still surrounded by a dedicated community that strongly advocates for its preservation.
Of the 21 missions established along the Californian coast in the 18th and 19th centuries, San Juan Capistrano is the best-known, most-visited, and the only one built from stone. The padres taught the Native American converts the Spanish language, a new set of craft skills, the religion Christianity, and European and Christian social customs.
For over the next 30 years, Mission San Juan Capistrano grew in population, buildings, livestock, and prominence. By , Mission San Juan Capistrano had a population of over a 1, people, over 10, head of cattle, and a completed architectural gem, The Great Stone Church.
After , the Mission began to decline. Many factors were involved in the Missions decline including the earthquake in December of which caused the Great Stone Church to collapse, the decline in birth rate, the increasing mortality rate of the population due to disease, the inability of Spanish government to adequately protect and supply the Missions with needed goods.
Under new governmental direction, the Mission faced continued decline. By , the Mexican government decided to end the mission system entirely. Soon after the decree of secularization, or the ending of the missions, the land holdings of Mission San Juan Capistrano were divided and sold to 20 prominent California families.
By , Governor Pio Pico even sold the Mission itself. For the next 20 years the Mission was a private ranch property of the Forster family.
Only a few years after acquiring the territory of California, the United States declared it a state Many California dioceses and parishioners petitioned the government to have mission buildings and lands returned to the church. People were saddened at the state of the missions. Some mission buildings had been turned into stores, bars, inns, or even stables. Most were falling apart and not maintained. President Abraham Lincoln responded to the petitioners by giving back the missions to the Catholic Church.
By the s and early s, artists, photographers, and visionaries took interest in the abandoned missions. Many wealthy individuals formed groups to campaign for restoration. Throughout the ss a great amount of preservation work ensued. The Mission continues efforts in preservation, with the help of donations each year. Although the Mission is owned by the Catholic Church, it is run by a non-profit organization.
It depends entirely on the generous contributions of visitors and benefactors. Also in a stabilization program was inaugurated to ensure that the Great Stone Church continues to be a focal point of the mission. Nearly two centuries of deterioration had caused a great amount of damage.
It was possibly the largest preservation project in California. Today the mission buildings are used for various purposes. The north wing was formerly the convent for the teaching nuns and today is used for offices and other utilitarian purposes. The west wing was formerly shops for weaving, sewing and other chores and is now a museum.
The adjacent iron smelter, wine and olive presses and the area for treating hides and making tallow are on display. The east wing is where the Serra Chapel is located. The beautiful rare old retablo behind the altar, carved from cedar by skilled Spanish craftsman of more than years ago.
It had been sent in from Spain to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles where it was stored. The retablo was so tall that the roof of the Chapel had to be raised. It is covered with gold leaf which is renewed periodically. The parish rectory is in this wing.
Outside on the eastern side of the Chapel are the old mission Indian cemetery and the grave of Monsignor St. The south corridor contains historical depictions and displays.
The companario wall bell wall has a statue of Father Serra and a Juaneno Indian boy near the south side. On the north side is the Sacred Garden, a fountain, and commemorative plaque honoring Paul Arbiso.
Paul was the Mission bell ringer for more than 60 years and the Patriarch of San Juan Capistrano for 23 years.
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