Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto - Goliad, Texas
Posted by: 
Raven
N 28° 38.888 W 097° 22.968
14R E 658057 N 3170072
Built between 1775 and 1790, the Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto is one of the oldest extant churches in the United States and has been continually operated by the Catholic Diocese of Victoria, Texas since 1853.
Waymark Code: WMPY4T
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/08/2015
Views: 6
Built between 1775 and 1790, the Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto is situated near the NW corner of the Presidio Nuestra Senora de Loreto de la Bahia (Fort our of lady of Loreto of the bay) in Goliad, Texas. Originally built to give the soldiers stationed at the fort a place to worship, it has been owned by the Catholic Church since 1853 and is operated by the Catholic Diocese of Victoria, Texas.
Mass is still held every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. just as it has been almost continuously since its construction. One of the oldest churches in America, it is also one of the only buildings in existence that has its original "groin vaulted ceiling" in place.
The chapel is about 90 feet long, 27 feet wide and its massive stone walls are four feet thick. The facade has an arched entrance and a massive, square bell tower with a pyramidal roof. Over the door is an octagonal window which lights the choir loft. Above the window, a semi-circular pediment, crowned with a cross, frames a rough stone arched niche containing a statue. In the groin-vaulted interior, a shell-formed doorway leads into a side chapel on the right and on the left is the sacristy, projecting from the outer wall.
The first Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico was signed on this chapel's altar on December 20, 1835.
Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1775
Age of Church building determined by?: Historical Society
If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Catholic
If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: From: 9:00 AM To: 4:45 PM
If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday
Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 5:00 PM
Street address of Church:
217 Loop 71
Goliad, TX USA
77963
Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]
Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed
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