San Miguel Chapel

San Miguel Chapel commonly referred to as the oldest Catholic Church standing in the United States. Parts of the original walls, built sometime before 1628, are still standing, and the chapel is still used regularly for religious services, a cultural center at the heart of El Barrio de Analco National Register Historic District in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

The Chapel’s website captures the wide cultural importance of San Miguel:

During the 400+ years, first under the rule of imperial Spain, then Mexico, and finally the USA, the Chapel, dedicated to Archangel Michael, has been many things to many people. It has served as a place of worship for diverse groups of Native Americans; an infirmary for Franciscan missionaries; a target for autocratic officials and exploited Pueblo groups; a military chapel; a unique venue for talks, concerts, celebrations and ceremonies; and a sanctified space for Sunday Mass in Latin and English. Today and into the future, this treasured, privately owned, but ever-fragile structure requires constant vigilance and expert use of traditional construction methods and culturally authentic materials.

The original dirt floor was replaced with wood in1861 and replaced again in 1927. The original nave roof had a foot or more of dirt over wood planking set on vigas. Over time, the roof has been modified and most recently in the 1970s. All of the dirt has been removed from the present roof. The apse has an elevated roof section with a clerestory window facing west that bathes the alter in sunset light.

Beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2008, Cornerstones was contacted by St. Michael’s High School, owner of San Miguel Chapel, to create a Conditions Assessment and Preservation Plan (CAPP) and to explore funding for the preservation work required. Restoration, led by Cornerstones and powered through community volunteers, began in June of 2010 and continued through 2014 during the warmer months of the year. All cement plaster on the exterior was removed, wall and basal repairs were made, and the entire surface was covered with 3 to 6 layers of mud plaster.

During the summer of 2010, the west (front) side was completed; in 2011 the north and east sides; and in 2012 the south side. In 2013 most of the work was confined to the inside of the gift shop, and in 2014, using funds contributed by the St. Francis Hotel, of the Heritage Hotels chain, the bell tower was completely restored and made secure. The tower bell rang in October 2014 for the first time since 1872, more than 140 years.

The entire restoration process involved 7,095 hours of labor contributed by 1,415 volunteers, without whose help the urgently needed restoration of this historically significant chapel could not have happened. Volunteers came from the local community and other areas of New Mexico, from states across the country, and from other countries. Tourists walking through the area often stopped to inquire about what was happening, and then stayed or returned to help; church, school, and college groups arranged to volunteer for a day or days or a week at time. St. Michael’s students volunteered to contribute to their school’s share of the costs.

For a more in depth look into the restoration of the San Miguel Chapel Annex, please watch the video below: