La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles facts for kids
A photograph of the "Plaza Church" taken by William Henry Jackson between 1890 and 1900. The structure incorporated a four-bell campanario ("bell wall") prior to being rebuilt in 1861.
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Location | Los Angeles, California |
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Coordinates | 34°03′25″N 118°14′22″W / 34.05698°N 118.23939°W |
Name as founded | Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles |
English translation | The Church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels |
Patron | Mary, mother of Jesus |
Founding date | August 18, 1814 |
Founding priest(s) | Father Luis Gíl y Taboada |
Governing body | Roman Catholic Church |
Current use | Parish Church |
Reference no. | #144 |
Reference no. | 3 |
La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, (The Church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels), is a historic Roman Catholic church in El Pueblo de los Ángeles Historical Monument in northern downtown Los Angeles, California, United States. The church was founded by the Spanish in the early 19th century when modern-day California was under Spanish rule and known as Alta California in the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
History
La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles ("The Church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels") was founded on August 18, 1814, by Franciscan Fray Luis Gil y Taboada. He placed the cornerstone for the new church in the adobe ruins of the original "sub-station mission" here, the Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles Asistencia (founded 1784), thirty years after it was established to serve the settlement founding Los Angeles Pobladores (original settlers). The completed new structure was dedicated on December 8, 1822. A replacement chapel, named La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles – for Mary, mother of Jesus or "The Church of Our Lady of the Angels" – was rebuilt using materials of the original church in 1861. The title Reina, meaning "Queen," was added later to the name. For years, the little chapel, which collected the nicknames "La Placita" and "Plaza Church," served as the sole Roman Catholic church in Los Angeles.
20th century
The facility has operated under the auspices of the Claretian Missionary Fathers since 1908.
The building was designated as one of the first three Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in 1962. It has also been designated as a California Historical Landmark.
21st century
The church is a part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and serves as a neighborhood parish church, as well as a cultural landmark. Since the 1960s it has been retrofitted against earthquakes. Masses are said in Spanish and English.
California Historical Landmark Marker
California Historical Landmark Marker NO. 144 at the site reads:
- NO. 144 NUESTRA SEÑORA LA REINA DE LOS ANGELES - La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles-the Church of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels-was dedicated on December 8, 1822 during California's Mexican era. Originally known as La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, the church was the only Catholic church for the pueblo. Today it primarily serves the Hispanic population of Los Angeles.
Gallery
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The "Old Plaza Church" facing the Plaza, 1869. The brick reservoir in the middle of the Plaza was the original terminus of the Zanja Madre.
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The façade of Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles in 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles para niños