National Historic Landmark is the oldest unrestored stone church in America
General Information
Head east on Dolorosa toward Main Plaza. Continue onto W Market St. Turn right onto S St Mary's St. Continue onto Roosevelt Ave. Continue straight to stay on Roosevelt Ave. Turn right onto Felisa St.
Overview
Mission Concepción, founded in East Texas in 1716 and relocated to San Antonio in 1731, is the oldest unrestored stone church in the United States and one of the four mission sites (along with the Alamo) that make up the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike some of its sister missions, it was never structurally rebuilt — its twin bell towers and stone facade are essentially what Franciscan friars and Pajalat converts finished building in the mid-1700s.
Look closely at the weathered exterior and you can still make out traces of the brightly colored frescoes that once covered the whole church, inside and out; restoration work in 1988 and again in 2010 uncovered more of this original artwork in the convento, sanctuary, and nave. The mission grounds were also the site of the Battle of Concepción in October 1835, a 30-minute skirmish often called the first major engagement of the Texas Revolution. The church remains an active parish, with Catholic Mass still held every Sunday.
Things to Do
Look for the Original Frescoes
Examine the facade and interior for surviving traces of the mission's original painted decoration, including sections uncovered during 1988 and 2010 restorations.
Attend Sunday Mass
Mission Concepción is still a working Catholic parish, and attending Mass is a way to experience the church as more than a historic ruin.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mission Concepcion", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
