The Washington herald., 1908-01-19


Santa Fe. y. Mex. Jan. 1S.-The ancient
Santa Re Church, as & IS called, Is the
| Oldest house Of worship in the United
states, according to the claim Of the
Christian Brothers, the Catholic order
which has charge Of the edifce. Brother
David. who looks after the spiritual we'll
fare Of the parish, says that the records
Of the Christian Brothers show that the
foundation Of the Santa Re Church was
laid in 15iL The next oldest church build
ing In this country is the mission Of San
Xavier, situated near Tucson. Ariz.. in
PapagO Indian settlement There IS
dispute as TO whether the San Xavier
mission was started in 15i7. as is asserted
by some, or at later time Coronado.
VINO is said TO have laid the corner stone
Of the mission building. was in Spain Ia
l54T, and il is believed by those who have
investigated the facts bearing on the
subject that the Santa Re Church is
ten or fifteen years older that the san
Xavier mission building
The construction Of the Santa re edl-
fee was slow work. The more expert
artisans had 10 be brought all the way
from Spain. Indians were forced TO per-
form much of the hard manual labor
of making the adobe bricks or blocks
which were originally used in the walls
and in carrying them to the places
where they were laid. The walls Of the
building are from three TO i've feet thick,
and that the sUn-Gr.ed clay blocks were
strong and serYiceable is attested by the
fact that they have Withstood the ravages
Of the elements for nearly four hundred
years and are still in apparently as good
condition as when they were placed III
position
Many Improvements Made.
The church has undergone many i'm
provements since It was built Il now
has little resemblance to the original
structure. The adobe outside walls have
been smoothed over with plaster material
and wherever evidence OF decay was
shown repairs were made The ancient
belfry mas been rem0deIed TO such an
extent that its appearance is entirely
changed from that Of the original struc-
ture. The old bell. which is said 10 have
It's completion now occupies q position
just inside the entrance door Of tha
church. The bell itself is a relic that at
tracts the attention 0f all who visit the
historic place. The bell was cast on
August g, 1856, as Is shown by the date
which is nodded oa .t. This bell IS said
10 have done service in Spain for 20
years before il was brought 10 the an
cient pueblo at Santa Fe and installed in
this church, In the time when the church
eCifce was also a fort the bell was used
to sound the alarm 10 the settlers of the
Santa Fe district when the Indians
swooped down upon the pueblo.
When the church was originally built
and for a century or two afterward the
openings In its walls, which are now fitted
with windows of glass. were covered with
Indian blankets when the wind and snow
came The bare ground served for a
floor until l7lo, when d puncheon floor
was put down. Since that date the inter
Tor Of the church has been ornamented
with d gallery. The walls Of the edihee
are adorned with a number Of paintings
some Of which were the work Of old
masters and are said 20 be very vaiua-
BILE
The shrine which IS situated at the
beauty. The candles which are burning
there are never permitted 70 go out
Grave of Noted Explorer.
Many historic incidents are connected
with the church II IS under the altar
Of this edidce that the bones Of de Var
gas, a noted Spanish explorer and mill
tary commander are buried. II vas de
Vargas who ret00k New Mexico from
the Indians in 1892 Other men OF note OF
that early period, brave missionaries and
soldiers, met their death in and rear the
old church and their remains are also
buried beneath It's altar
The Santa Fe River runs close 20 the
church ana il was from the bed Of that
stream that the stones were hewu for
use IN supporting the upper structure
OF adobe. The stones are also used To
form slOping columns on each side OF
the front OF the structure. which serve
as props 20 the original building. These
props have been erected in comparatively
recent years and serve 10 very much
change the original appearance of the
structure. Its ancient mission style is
still retained. however. and In general
outline the exterior Of the building re-
mains as it was originally.
In close keeping with the historical as
sOCiatiOns Of this church there is situat-
ed close 10 il an adobe building which is
said 10 be the oldest house in the United
States. j was occupied by a chief OF the
Pueblo Indians when the construction OF
the Santa Fe church was begun. and its
age At that time was estimated at more
than 100 years. When Coronado invaded
what later became known as New Mex
leo Territory he ousted the Pueblo chief
and later took possession OF the building.
using it as his headquarters during his
stay. The building is now IN a dilapi-
dated condition. bat there IS talk Of 1t
being restored and preserved as a his
toric relic.