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San Miguel Chapel is often referred to as the oldest continuously used church in the United States. It’s located in the Barrio de Analco Historic District of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Visiting
The San Miguel Chapel is typically open to visitors daily for a few hours. There’s no fee to enter, but the suggested donation is at least US$5 per person (as of May 2023). Mass is offered twice on Sunday.
History
The original San Miguel Chapel was built in 1610 by Tlaxcalans accompanying Spanish settlers from Mexico, under the direction of the Franciscans. It was rebuilt twice, in the late 17th century and again in 1710.
Altar Screen
The altar belongs to the original chapel and was built by the Tlaxcalans. The alter screen dates back to 1798 and contains a wooden statue of St. Michael the Archangel. The statue was carved in Mexico in 1709 and has been in place since at least 1776.
The top of the altar screen features a painting of St. Michael the Archangel by Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco (1713-1785) done in 1745. Below is a painting of Jesus dating back to the mid-18th century which was found behind the altar screen during renovations in 1955. The two paintings in the center are flanked by four oval oil paintings on canvas dating back to the early 18th century. They’re Mexican in origin and depict St. Teresa of Ávila, St. Gertrude, St. Louis, and St. Francis of Assisi.
Bell
Another interesting feature of the chapel is the bell that hung in the bell tower before 1872. It’s on display inside the chapel and weighs 780 pounds (350 kilograms). It was cast in 1856 in Santa Fe, although an inscription mistakenly bears the date 1356:
“San José ruega por nosotros
Agosto 9 de 1356”“Saint Joseph pray for us
August 9, 1356″
Architecture
The walls of the San Miguel Chapel are about five feet thick. The ceiling contains wooden vigas, of which two are square and thought to date back to 1710.
Other Decorations
Other decorations line the walls of the chapel, including the Stations of the Cross, paintings, and sculpture.
