Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos facts for kids

Ruins of the Pecos pueblo and mission church.

Did you know? Another mission with a similar name, Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles, was located in Los Angeles, California.

The Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula was an important church. It served the people of the Pecos Pueblo. This pueblo was a community near what is now Pecos, New Mexico. The mission started around the year 1619.

Building the First Church

The very first church at the Pecos Pueblo was likely built by a Franciscan priest. His name was Fray Pedro Zambrano Ortiz. This happened by 1619. The church was a bit far from the main village. It stood on a narrow ridge. The people of the pueblo did not want the church built closer to their homes.

A New Church and a Revolt

In 1625, a stronger church was built. It was located just outside the walls of the Pecos Pueblo. This church was destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. During this revolt, the Spanish were forced to leave New Mexico. After the Spanish returned in 1693, a smaller church was built. This happened in 1717. The walls of this later church are still standing today. They rest on the stone foundation of the older church.

Visiting the Ruins Today

The old church ruins are still there to see. They are about 20 miles east of Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can find them off I-25. The ruins are part of the Pecos National Historic Park. It's a great place to learn about history.

See also

• Alonso de Posada
• Spanish missions in New Mexico