Mission San Rafael Arcángel
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 The reconstructed capilla (chapel) at Mission San Rafael Arcángel on a rainy day in December, 2004. |
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| Location | San Rafael, California |
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| Name as Founded | La Misión del Gloriosísimo Príncipe San Rafael, Arcángel [1] |
| Translation | The Mission of the Glorious Prince, Archangel Saint Raphael |
| Namesake | The Glorious Prince Saint Raphael, Archangel |
| Founding Date | December 14, 1817 [2] |
| Founding Priest(s) | Father Vicente de Sarría |
| Founding Order | Twentieth |
| Military District | Fourth |
| Owner | Roman Catholic Church |
| Current Use | Chapel / Museum |
| California Historical Landmark | #220 |
| Web Site | http://saintraphael.com |
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded on December 14, 1817 as a medical asistencia ("sub-mission" or branch) of the Mission San Francisco de Asís as a hospital to treat sick Indians. The weather was much better in the North Bay, and helped the ill to get better. It was never intended to be a stand-alone mission, but nevertheless grew and was granted full mission status on October 19, 1822. Likewise, Mission San Francisco Solano was intended to be an adjunct of Mission San Rafael but developed into a full-blown mission in its own right.
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was one of the first missions turned over to the Mexican government in 1833. In 1840, there were 150 Indians still at the Mission. By 1844, Mission San Rafael Arcángel had been abandoned; what was left of the empty buildings was sold for $8,000 in 1846. The Mission was used by John C. Fremont as his headquarters during the battles to make California a United States possession (see Bear Flag Revolt). In 1847, a priest was once again living at the Mission. A new parish church was built near the old chapel ruins in 1861, and, in 1870, the rest of the ruins were removed to make room for the City of San Rafael. All that was left of the Mission was a single pear tree from the old Mission's orchard. In 1949, Monsignor Thomas Kennedy rebuilt and restored the chapel.
Today the Mission San Rafael Arcángel sits next to the St. Raphael Parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, on the site of the original hospital. It is open to visitors and has a small museum and gift shop.
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[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Leffingwell, Randy (2005). California Missions and Presidios: The History & Beauty of the Spanish Missions. Voyageur Press, Inc., Stillwater, MN. ISBN 0-89658-492-5.
- Yenne, Bill (2004). The Missions of California. Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, CA. ISBN 1-59223-319-8.
[edit] See also
- Spanish missions in California
- Mission San Francisco de Asís
- Mission San Francisco Solano
- USNS Mission San Rafael (AO-130) — a Buenaventura Class fleet oiler built during World War II.
