Santa Fe Churches
Here are some photos of the historic churches that I passed repeatedly on my daily walks in Santa Fe.
San Miguel Chapel is the oldest church in the United States, and is still in use (Catholic Masses are held here monthly). The original adobe church was built some time after 1610, when Sante Fe was established as the capital city of Nuevo Mexico. It was repaired multiple times, notably after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The current building dates back to 1710, and is still made from carefully maintained adobe. The big bell is the subject of a long-standing debate. Some say it was made in medieval Spain; others say it was made 500 years later, in 19th century New Mexico.
Loretto Chapel was built in 1873 for a girls’ school run by the Sisters of Loretto. It’s constructed in the classic gothic style, after Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The Chapel is famous for its “Miraculous Staircase.” Legend has it that the architect died before construction was complete, and there was no way to access to the choir loft. After multiple builders were stumped (the space was too small for a traditional staircase), the Sisters prayed to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, for help. A mysterious carpenter appeared and built the helix-shaped wooden staircase. If not miraculous, the staircase is certainly masterful: it is 20 feet high and has two full turns with no central support pole. Impressive! The Loretto Chapel was de-consecrated and is now a museum and can be booked for weddings.
St. Francis Cathedral (The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi) is an imposing presence in downtown Santa Fe and is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The current building was completed in 1887, in the style of great European churches. It was constructed around the old adobe church, which was then dismantled, except for a small chapel at the left of the altar. That chapel houses a centuries-old wooden statue called La Conquistadora, the first Madonna to be brought to the New World. In 1992, the statue was renamed Our Lady of Peace. Her figure is also at the top of the wonderful Settlers Monument in small park next to the Cathedral.
Rosario Chapel is across town from the Cathedral. Every year, La Conquistadora is carried in procession from the Cathedral to Rosario Chapel, and novena masses begin. After the novena, the statue is returned to the Cathedral. Rosario Chapel was built in 1807, on the site where Don Diego de Vargas and his army camped in 1692 during the Spanish re-conquest of Santa Fe, 12 years after the Pueblo Revolt. It is said that de Vargas prayed to La Conquistadora for a peaceful re-entry to the capital, and later held a feast in her honor.
