Missions were set up by the Spanish to spread their religion and culture throughout their colonies. A total of 26 Franciscan missions were set up between  1682 and 1793 within the borders of modern day Texas, not a large number considering the size of the state. Some of the missions were too isolated to achieve their aims, but there were successes where there were clusters of missions such as around El Paso and San Antonio. The most famous Texan mission is Misión San Antonio de Valero, but for historical reasons you won’t find it on this page. If you don’t know why have a look at the San Antonio page.

 Mission Socorro, El Paso

While the mission was officially founded during a Mass held  a temporary structure in 1680, it is not clear when the the first building was put up. A church is recorded nearby in 1691 and it is thought that a church was built on this site in around 1692. The first two churches were destroyed by flooding in 1740 and 1829 and the current church was dedicated in 1863. Although the simplicity of the mission church suggests authenticity, the 1843 building has in fact been extended and modified many times, right up to the late 20th century. Behind the large frontage of Socorro Mission lies a relatively small church. The interior matches the simplicity of the exterior design. When we visited the church was undergoing renovation as a result of which the bare adobe walls  up to 1 metre (3 feet) thick were clearly visible. Click Tab 2 to see the interior of the church.

Mission Espiritu Santo, Goliad

This is a Spanish Mission that moved four times and then crumbled away.  French explorer La Salle had set up a fort on Matagorda Bay in the late 1600s which had been destroyed by local Indians. Spain claimed the land, so they decided to set up a fort, Presidio La Bahia.  It opened in 1721 and Mission Espíritu Santo was set up nearby. The Indians were not keen to convert to Catholicism and there was considerable violence, so the decision was taken to relocate. In 1725 both Presidio and Mission moved around  48 km (30 miles) west to the Guadalupe River Valley. Here the Indians were thought to be more open to conversion. Another mission bearing the same name was built further up the Guadalupe River Valley. The two missions may have operated at the same time, but hasty construction of the 1725 mission may have played a part in this move. It proved difficult to irrigate crops in the Guadalupe River Valley. In 1749 the mission moved to its final location on the lower San Antonio River, near present day Goliad. At this site the Mission established a cattle ranch that was for a time successful, but it failed in its objective of converting the local Indians. The Mission continued to operate until 1830 then for a time it was a school until taken over by the City of Goliad. In 1886 the buildings were ruined in a violent storm. The remains of the walls were reused for local building work. The mission was reconstructed during the 1930s. Click Tab 2 to see the interior of the church.

Missions

Mission San José, San Antonio

Five missions were built in and near San Antonio creating a “Mission Trail” for modern tourists that extends southwards from the downtown area. Founded in 1720 the full name of this mission is San José y San Miguel de Aguayo in honour of both St Joseph and then provincial governor the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo. The current Mission San José completed in 1782 is the largest of the San Antonio missions and due to its imposing architecture it has been dubbed “The Queen of Missions”. The church is still in active use for worship. Outside the north wall of the mission stands a grist mill which was built around 1784. The interio of the grist mill has been restored by the National Park Service. Click Tab 2 to see the grist mill..

 Interior of Mission San Juan Capistrano

Not to be confused with its namesake in California, Mission San Juan Capistrano was originally founded  in eastern Texas in 1716, but moved to San Antonio in 1731. The current building dates from 1756. The survival of the simple design design and layout of the church is due to a fall in the local population which resulted in the abandonment of construction of a larger church. The mission was a self-contained community of Franciscan Friars and local Indians, able to produce most of their own food and many of the implements that they needed. When we revisited the mission in 2011 it was closed in order to repair serious structural damage due to earth movement, so this is an old picture of the interior. Click Tab 2 to see the Mission under repair.

Mission Concepción, San Antonio

The colonial Spanish were rather prone to over long names and this is no exception as the full name of this mission is Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de Acuña. Founded in 1716, Mission  Concepción was originally founded in eastern Texas but like San Juan Capistrano it moved to its present site in 1731. The current church dates from 1755. Originally the front and much of the interior were covered in frescos but they have been lost apart from fragments in three rooms. The church is still in active use for worship. Click Tab 2 to see the interior of the church.

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