Interior of Mission San Miguel Arcángel

Mission San Miguel Arcángel was founded in 1797 halfway between the San Luis Obispo and San Antonio Missions and is one of only four Californian missions still under the care of the Franciscan Brothers. This picture taken on December 7, 2003 shows the original wall paintings inside the church. Fifteen days after this picture was taken the church suffered extensive damage in an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale. The church remained closed until October 2009 when it reopened after repairs  costing $6.7m. The total cost of repairing the whole of the mission is expected to reach around $15m. Click Tab 2 to see the front of the church complete with cracks caused by the earthquake.

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, Oceanside

Founded in 1798, San Luis Rey de Francia was named for French King Louis IX. It was the last mission to be founded in the south and it grew to be the largest serving at its peak an American Indian population of 2,700. In the second half of the 19th century it fell into disrepair and most of the church was destroyed. Franciscans from Mexico returned 1892 and started a rebuilding programme that continues to this day.

Mission San Diego de Alcala

The very first of the 21 Missions, San Diego de Alcala was founded in 1769 near the coast on a site 10 km (6 miles) to the west. The Mission had a troubled early history with in 1775 the first one on this site burned down and a priest killed by rioting American Indians. The current church was completed in 1813 but fell into disrepair in the second half of the 19th century. Following extensive rebuilding in 1913 the church is now in active use for worship.

Carmel Mission

Carmel is probably best known for its former mayor, a certain Clint Eastwood, as well as its very expensive and exclusive shops. Carmel Mission was founded in 1771 and the current church was built in 1793, replacing an adobe church with one built from sandstone. In common with most of the Californian Missions, it remains in active use as a place of worship.

Californian Missions

The Spanish colonised California in the 18th century and they build a chain of 21 missions between San Diego and just north of San Francisco, linked by a road called ‘El Camino Real’ (The Royal Road, now Route 101). The  Missions were founded by Franciscan Friars to serve the American Indian population. Neglect in the second half of the 19th century and frequent earthquakes have taken their toll, but many have been restored to give a fascinating insight into the early European history of the area.

Santa Barbara Old Mission

Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth of the Californian Missions founded in 1786 and is now the most visited. After earlier adobe churches were destroyed by earthquakes the current building was completed in 1833. Although the missions were secularised in 1834 by the Mexican Government, Franciscan control of the building was re-established before the building went into serious decline, and they remain in control of it to this day. Click Tab 2 to see the interior of the church.

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Mission San Jose

This magnificent mission is actually a reconstruction, but a very good one. Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen founded Mission San Jose  on June 11, 1797 on a site about 20 kilometres (13 miles) north of modern-day San Jose. That the city and mission have the same name is purely a coincidence, both were named in honour of St. Joseph. The church and many other buildings were destroyed in an earthquake in 1868. Only the Convento remained, now used as the museum. The church was reconstructed between 1982 and 1985. Click Tab 2 to see the interior of the church.

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© Mike  Elsden 1981 - 2025

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