Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (Monterey, California) facts for kids

Royal Presidio Chapel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
The Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo from the northeast
Location in Monterey Peninsula
Location	550 Church Street, Monterey, California
Area	0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built	1791-1794
Architectural style	Spanish Colonial
NRHP reference No.	66000216
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	October 9, 1960

The Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, also called the Royal Presidio Chapel, is a Catholic church in Monterey, California. It is the oldest continuously operating church and the oldest stone building in California. Built between 1791 and 1794, it is one of the oldest cathedrals still serving in the United States, along with St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is also the only original chapel left from the Monterey Presidio.

History of the Cathedral

Early Days

The church was started by a Franciscan friar named Saint Junípero Serra. He founded it as the chapel for Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo on June 3, 1770. Father Serra first set up the mission in Monterey at this very spot. It was near a native village called Tamo.

However, Father Serra had disagreements with the military governor, Pedro Fages. Governor Fages was in charge of the Presidio of Monterey. He also governed Alta California from 1770 to 1774. Because of these issues, Father Serra decided to move the mission away from the Presidio.

In May 1771, the Spanish viceroy agreed to Father Serra's request. The mission was then moved to its current location. This new spot is near the Carmel River. It is also close to the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

From Chapel to Cathedral

When the mission moved, the old wooden and adobe building became the San Jose Chapel. It served the Presidio of Monterey. Monterey became the capital of the Province of Californias in 1777. The chapel was then renamed the Royal Presidio Chapel.

The original church from 1770-71 was destroyed by a fire in 1789. This fire was caused by a salute gun. A new sandstone building replaced it. This new structure was built between 1791 and 1795. It was finished in 1794 by local Indian workers. In 1840, the chapel was rededicated to Saint Charles Borromeo.

In 1849, the chapel was chosen to be the main church for the Diocese of Monterey. This decision was made by Bishop Joseph Alemany. Later, Bishop Alemany became the Archbishop of San Francisco. His successor, Thaddeus Amat y Brusi, moved the main church. It was moved to Mission Santa Barbara. This was done to be closer to the larger population in Los Angeles.

Interesting Facts

A Presidential Wedding

The cathedral sanctuary as seen on Holy Saturday in 2013.

Did you know a future US President got married here? Herbert Hoover and Lou Henry were married on February 10, 1899. Father Ramon Mestres, who worked at the chapel, performed the ceremony. Hoover was the first President to be married by a Catholic priest.

The wedding did not happen inside the chapel itself. It took place at the Henry family home. Father Mestres had special permission from the bishop to do the civil ceremony. This was because there was no Protestant minister in town at that time.

Architecture and Design

Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe atop the cathedral façade.

The Royal Presidio Chapel was the first stone building in California. It shows off the beautiful Spanish Colonial style from the late 1700s. You can also see influences from Moorish architecture in its design.

The church has amazing ornamental arches and doorways carved from sandstone. These features make the church very special. Many people think it is the most beautiful of all the California Missions. A lovely garden surrounds the church. A path leads around the building to the San Carlos School and the Rectory.

To the right of the Cathedral, there is a statue of the Virgin Mary with an arch below it. At the back of the building, you can find the Junipero Oak. This is a famous California landmark. The church also has a bell tower to announce Mass. In a special spot at the very top of the façade, there is a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This is the oldest non-native sculpture in California.

Important Places Nearby

• The Vizcaíno-Serra Oak. The preserved parts of this tree are very old. It is linked to the early history of Monterey. It once stood on the cathedral grounds.
• San Carlos School. This school is located on the cathedral grounds. It was started in 1898 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondolet. Later, the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception ran it. Since 2001, it has been run by the San Carlos Cathedral. It has a lay principal and teachers.

Historic Recognition

In 1960, the chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was also named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. The chapel became the main church for the Diocese of Monterey again in 1967. This happened when the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno was divided. It split into the Monterey and Fresno dioceses.

The cathedral is the smallest in the contiguous United States. It is also one of the two oldest buildings still serving as a cathedral in the United States. The other is St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was also finished in 1794.

• California Historical Landmark #105 — Royal Presidio Chapel
• California Historical Landmark #128 — Landing Place of Sebastian Vizcaíno and Fray Junípero Serra

Restoration Efforts

A detailed report about the building was finished in 1999. It described the chapel's history and its current condition. It also suggested what needed to be done to protect it.

Money for the restoration came from many groups. These included The Getty Foundation, The California Missions Foundation, and The Walker Foundation. The Community Foundation of Monterey County and private donations also helped.

In May 2007, a concrete apron was removed. This apron had trapped moisture in the exterior walls. To keep water away from the sandstone walls, a French drain was built. It went around the entire building. The roof was also removed to fix termite damage. This allowed for new supports to be installed in the attic.

Workers took off the plaster covering the original stone walls. They found that the main walls, built in 1794, were in much better shape. The newer parts, added in 1858, needed more work. About 80% of the back walls of the church were replaced. This used 100 tons of new stone and lime mortar.

The building was also made stronger against earthquakes. This involved connecting the inner and outer walls. Steel bars were put into vertical holes drilled in the exterior walls. This made them much more stable. Restorers also found that the inside of the church used to be much more decorated than people thought.

See also

• List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
• List of cathedrals in the United States
• Former California State Capitol sites