La Purisima Concepcion Mission

We traveled the back roads of California to find La Purisima Concepcion Mission at a state park.  It is the only mission that has been recreated as if it were a working mission from the era.  It would have been great to walk the grounds and see all the mission; however, it was raining with intermittent downpours during the time we were at this location.  Who were we to complain as California desperately needs the rain.

We did manage to enter the museum during the initial rain, and then make our way to mission church site in between downpours.  Since this is at a state park, the church is not active and has few of the items related to the church available for viewing.  However, it is still a work of art in its simple state.  I love that this mission continues to be a "living history" and there are often reenactments here throughout the year.  A big thank you to the CCC who came to save the mission in the 1930's.

This mission was the 11th in the line built in 1787 under the direction of Fr. Lasuen.  The original mission was destroyed by the 1812 earthquake.  By the insistence of the native Chumash people, the new mission was built at the current site.  It shows that the Spanish Franciscans did listen to the natives when making decisions about the missions.

Supplies to the missions and the Spanish military were largely cut off in 1821 when Mexico declared independence from Spain. This caused friction between the mission residents and soldiers who now had to depend on the mission for support. At Mission Santa Ines in 1824, this friction rose to the level of a revolt after a Santa Ines guard flogged a neophyte corporal from La Purisima. The Indians at Santa Ines revolted and, with the help of rebels from Santa Ines the rebellion spread to La Purisima. The Indians there took over the mission grounds and held them for about a month; until the news reached the Governor who sent troops from Monterey to quell the revolt.

In the end, 16 Indians died, many were wounded, one soldier died, and three were wounded. As a show of authority, the Governor condemned seven Indians to death and 18 to varying terms of imprisonment for their participation in the rebellion.

Since we have lived in California, we have often heard whisperings of the mistreatment of the natives at the missions.  However, while traveling this mission trail and learning the history, we have found that it was the government that caused the problems and the missions were usually the safe haven for the natives.  I can not say that the natives were never mistreated at the missions but it seems that the natives would still turn to the Franciscans when they had needs.

The interior of the church is probably very close to what it was during the mission era. Many mission churches are currently used as active parishes and so have pews and modern altars. This church is closer to the original Mission with rough-textured walls and floors, simple stenciled wall decorations and few fixtures (people attending services stood, sat, or knelt on the floor during services with men to one side and women to the other).

The rain came again and we decided to make our way to the next mission.  Maybe we will return to this mission one day when it is sunny as it is only a short day trip away from our home.