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Mission Concepción is a Catholic mission church in San Antonio, Texas. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of four missions that make up the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
History
Mission Concepción was originally founded in 1716 in eastern Texas by the Domingo Ramón–St. Denis expedition. It was named the Mission of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of the Hanais (Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de los Hainais).
After a series of setbacks and several moves, it was relocated to its present location in 1731. The name was changed to the Mission of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Acuña (Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña), honoring Juan de Acuña y Bejarano (1658-1734), the 1st Marquess of Casa Fuerte and Viceroy of New Spain at the time.
The mission sat behind a walled compound, and Native American families lived in rooms built along the interior of the walls. Natives were taught to live as Spaniards, learning the Spanish language and several important trades and skills.
On October 28, 1835, the Battle of Concepción, lasting only 30 minutes, was fought there. It’s described as “the first major engagement of the Texas Revolution.” Mission Concepción was designated a National Historic Landmark on April 15, 1970. It’s still an active Catholic parish today.
Church
The church was built between 1740 and 1755. It’s the oldest unrestored stone church in the entire country. The entrance is through the adjacent convent.
The church was built by master craftsmen brought in from Mexico and is a great example of Spanish Colonial architecture. It incorporates Moorish, Renaissance, Romanesque, and Gothic features. The walls are 45 inches thick, and the roof is vaulted with a dome.
The church at Mission Concepción was the most peaceful and most beautiful of the four mission churches we visited. The interior was darker than the others, giving it a more spiritual feel.
Frescoes
One of the most important features of Mission Concepción are the original frescoes. When the mission was built, all of the exterior and interior walls were painted with brightly colored frescoes. Today, only four rooms contain these frescoes.
The frescoes inside the church were exposed during a renovation that took place in 2010. The frescoes visible in the convent were restored by experts during a renovation in 1988.
Most of the frescoes were decorative in nature while others were symbolic. The most famous fresco is a possible depiction of God as a mestizo. It can be found on the ceiling of a room in the convent.
