Our Lady of Purification Catholic Church - Doña Ana, NM - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

"Our Lady of Purification Church is the oldest example of an adobe vernacular church in southern New Mexico. The ornamentation and detail of the structure is simple, reflecting the modest resources of the congregation that built it in the middle of the 19th century. The building is of a cruciform floor plan with thick walls made of adobe brick molded by the parishioners and carried up to the site from the valley land below. Until the 1920's, when it was covered with tongue and groove hardwood, the floor was of dirt which often had to be wetted to keep the dust down. As shown by the oldest available photograph (see enclosed) of the church taken around 1910, it was built with a flat roof using the traditional viga (beam) and latilla (small poles laid across the vigas) ceiling, and sealed with packed mud that would routinely have to be maintained. This stark, massive structure of earth had a plain twin-leafed entrance with a small window above it. The windows along the church walls are the 6 over 6 double hung wood type. It was probably around the turn of the century that a small wood-louvered bell tower was built above the entrance. The church faces south onto an open dirt plaza which now serves as parking. A garden bordering the east side of the church is enclosed with a stone wall which features an open arch parallel to the church entry." (visit link)

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1865 Age of Church building determined by?: Other reliable source If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Catholic Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed Street address of Church: Not listed Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed

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