San Estévan del Rey Mission Church facts for kids
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San Estévan del Rey Mission Church
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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San Estévan del Rey Mission in 2009
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Location | Acoma Pueblo, Acoma, New Mexico |
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| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Built | 1629 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Spanish Colonial |
| Part of | Acoma Pueblo (ID66000500) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000417 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHLDCP | October 9, 1960 |
The San Estévan del Rey Mission Church is a historic Spanish mission church. It is located on the Acoma Pueblo Reservation in western New Mexico. This church was built a long time ago, between 1629 and 1641.
It is a great example of two building styles mixed together. These are the Spanish Colonial and Puebloan (Native American) styles. The church was named after Saint Stephen I of Hungary. In 1970, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is still an active church.
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About the San Estévan del Rey Church
The San Estévan del Rey Mission Church stands at the north end of a large open area. This area is called a plaza. The plaza is at the southern end of the mesa top. A mesa is a flat-topped hill with steep sides.
This mesa is home to Sky City, which is the traditional Acoma pueblo settlement. People have lived here for a very long time, even before recorded history.
Building Materials and Design
The church is a big building made of adobe. Adobe is a type of brick made from earth and straw. Its main walls are very thick at the bottom. One wall is about 7 feet (2.1 m) thick. The walls rise to a height of 35 feet (11 m). At the top, they are still over 2 feet (0.61 m) thick.
The roof is also made of adobe, about six inches thick. This roof is very heavy. It is held up by large ponderosa pine vigas. Vigas are big wooden beams. Rough wooden planks are laid over these beams.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is finished with gypsum. Gypsum is a soft white mineral. There is an original painting by Native Americans on the back wall of the sanctuary.
Next to the church is a small, one-story building called a convento. This building was where the priest lived. The mission also had other buildings, but they are now in ruins.
The Cemetery
Right next to the church is a cemetery. It has a low wall around it. The wall has openings that face west. These openings are there so that ancestors can find rest.
The Acoma people take care of the church. Acoma men called the Gaugashti are the church caretakers. The Pueblo of Acoma Historic Preservation Office also helps with its upkeep.
History of the Mission Church
Spanish explorers first found the Acoma people in 1540. Later, in 1599, Spanish leaders took control of Acoma by force. This made Acoma part of the Spanish province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México.
Building the Church
In 1629, a priest named Father Juan Ramírez started building the mission church. Acoma people were made to help build it, along with skilled workers. The building materials were carried up the steep trails on the sides of the mesa.
The large viga beams for the roof were brought from about 40 miles (64 km) away. They came from Mount Taylor. This was the closest place to find such big timbers.
Surviving Challenges
In 1680, there was a big uprising called the Pueblo Revolt. During this revolt, the Acoma people killed the local priest. However, the church itself survived the uprising. The Spanish returned to power in 1692.
The church has only needed small repairs over the years. These repairs happened in 1799–1800, 1903, and 1924. This shows how well it was built and cared for.
See also
