San Miguel Mission

The city of Santa Fe was founded in 1610, and El San Miguel (St. Michael's) Mission Church was built between 1610 and and 1628. It is the oldest church still in use in the United States, this simple adobe structure was built by the Tlaxcalan Indians of Mexico, who came to New Mexico as servants of the Spanish. Badly damaged in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the church vigas in the ceiling were burned, and in 1692 De Vargas ordered the church rebuilt.

In 1859 the church served as the chapel for the newly arrived Christian Brothers who took over control of St. Michael's School. In 1881 the Christian Brothers purchased the church, a recently completed school building, an adobe building and the land upon which they were situated from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Since its creation, San Miguel has been used as a chapel and shrine to St. Michael, a military chapel, an oratory for the Christian Brothers, a school chapel and a barrio church. Today, in addition to being an historical treasure, cultural heritage and tourist attraction, it still serves as a shrine to St. Michael and a chapel where Mass is celebrated weekly

Some of the features of San Miquel Mission are:

Reredos - The reredos or altar screen dates from 1798 and is the oldest wooden reredos in New Mexico.

St. Michael the Archangel Statue - The carved gilded and painted wood statue of St. Michael the Archangel celebrates his victory over Satan and dates from at least 1709 when it was brought from Mexico. It occupies the center niche in the reredos.

The San Jose Bell - The bronze bell situated in the gift shop once hung in the bell tower. There is some speculation that it was cast in 1856 in the Parroquia in Santa Fe or in Cerrillos in 1836.

San Miguel Mission Chapel
401 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone (505) 983-3974