San Francisco de Asís Mission Church Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids San Francisco de Asís Mission Church
Mission Church of Ranchos de Taos
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Franciscans
Location
Location	The Plaza of Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico USA
Location in New Mexico
Architecture
Architect(s)	Built by The Franciscan Fathers
Architectural style	Adobe, Spanish Colonial
Completed	1772
Materials	Adobe Terra Colorado Exterior. Adobe brick laid up in adobe mortar with adobe plaster surface.
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Added to NRHP	April 15, 1970
NRHP Reference no.	70000416
Designated as NHL	April 15, 1970
Type	Contributing property
October 2, 1978
Parent listing	Ranchos de Taos Plaza
78001830

The San Francisco de Asís Parish Church is a very old and special Catholic church located in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. It's part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Long ago, in the 1700s, this church was the heart of a small farming community where Spanish and Native American people lived.

The church you see today was built a long time ago, between 1772 and 1816. It's a great example of a Spanish Colonial church from New Mexico. Many artists love to paint and photograph it because of its unique look. In 1970, it was named a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a really important historical place.

What the Church Looks Like
- Building Materials and Design
History of the Church
- Recent Restorations
The Church in Art
Historic Photographs
Gallery
See also

What the Church Looks Like

The San Francisco de Asís Church is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Taos, New Mexico. It stands right in the middle of the main plaza in Ranchos de Taos. The church is about 120 feet (37 m) long and has a shape like a cross, which is called a cruciform plan.

Building Materials and Design

An Adobe wall stretches from the back of the church and one of its side sections, called a transept. This wall forms an enclosed area on the south side of the building. Large adobe supports, known as buttresses, stick out from the main walls. Some of these buttresses have a cool beehive shape at the ends of the transepts.

The roof is made of adobe laid on wooden planks. These planks are held up by strong timber beams called vigas. The vigas are placed closer together than in most other Spanish colonial buildings. The main entrance of the church has a bell tower on each side.

History of the Church

The San Francisco de Asís Church was first started in the early 1700s. The main building work began around 1772 and was finished in 1815. It was built by the Franciscan order, a group of Catholic priests. The church is named after Saint Francis of Assisi.

This church was the center of a fortified plaza, which means it was built to help protect the community from attacks by groups like the Comanche people. Over the years, the church has been repaired and updated several times, including in 1850, 1916, and 1933.

Recent Restorations

In 1967, the church's roof and ceiling beams (vigas) were replaced. New corbels, which are decorative supports, were also added to look like the old ones. The doors were replaced with copies of the original design. However, the original wooden altar area was kept just as it was.

Every year, the community and church members come together to apply new earthen plaster to the church. This helps keep the adobe walls strong and looking good.

The Church in Art

The San Francisco de Asís Church has been a favorite subject for many famous artists. Georgia O'Keeffe, a well-known painter, created several paintings of it. Famous photographers like Ansel Adams, Paul Strand, and Ned Scott also took pictures of the church.

Georgia O'Keeffe once said it was "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards." The Taos Chamber of Commerce even says it's "one of the most photographed and painted churches in the world."

Because of its historical and artistic importance, the church was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970. It is also recognized as a World Heritage church.