Royal Presidio Chapel of San Carlos Borromeo
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Touchstone
N 36° 35.746 W 121° 53.419
10S E 599257 N 4050604
Quick Description: Established as a mission by Father Serra, June 3, 1770, this became the royal Presidio Chapel when the mission was moved to Carmel. The chapel was rebuilt with stone in 1791 and became the parish church in 1835, due to secularization. In a dilapidated condition in 1850, it was reconstructed and altered with money donated by Governor Pacheco in 1858.
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 2/6/2006 9:52:22 PM
Waymark Code: WM79A
Views: 25
Long Description:
From its founding on June 3, 1770, this chapel has
accompanied Monterey on its path through
history. Father Serra and Don Gaspar de Portola,
leader of the Spanish military expedition, were charged with
founding a new settlement to secure New Spain's possession of Alta
California. Soldiers constructed the first fortifications and
dwellings of the Royal Presidio (long gone, the site occupied an
area approximately bounded by Webster and Fremont streets between
Camino El Estero and Abrego Street). The first chapel took the form
of a pole-and-brush structure.
Three versions of the chapel were built and lost to
fire or reconstruction before work began on the stone building
visitors see today. It was designed in Mexico City at the Academy
of San Carlos and constructed between 1791 and 1794, using local
labor, including Indians under the direction of master stonemason
Manuel Ruiz.
The main façade of the chapel is California's first architect
designed building. It is embellished with pilasters, decorative
niches, and sculpture. As the only church in the capital
of the province, it was attended by provincial and foreign
dignitaries and was the setting for public ceremonies. It was
designated ‘Royal’ because Alta California’s Spanish Governor
worshipped there in his role as representative of the King of
Spain. When the Presidio was abandoned around
1835, all the buildings except for the chapel fell into ruin.
Converted to a parish in 1840, the chapel became San Carlos Church.
It served as the cathedral of the Bishop of Monterey from 1850 to
1857. In 1968 it was again designated a cathedral, the smallest in
the continental United States.
San Carlos Cathedral is the oldest building on the Monterey
Peninsula and the oldest church in continuous use in California,
and the only remaining chapel associated with a presidio in
California. Not surprisingly, it is also a National Historic
Landmark.