Mission Santa Barbara
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Mission Santa Barbara is referred to
as the "Queen of the Missions". On Dec 4, 1786, on the Feast of
St. Barbara, Mission Santa Barbara, the 10th of the 21 California missions
was established. Padre Junipero Serra, who founded the first 9
missions had planned to build this one, but died 2 years earlier. Over
the years, 3 adobe churches stood here, each larger than the previous
one. An earthquake in 1812 destroyed the 3rd one, and in 1820 the
present one was finished and dedicated.
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The
church building is primarily a neoclassical style, and is similar to those built in the
countryside in Mexico in the early 1800s. In 1815 Padre
Antonio Ripoll was in charge of the construction after the1812 earthquake. Ripoll admired the
work of a Roman architect, who authored a work on architecture in 27
B.C. The decorative devices and
features on the front are taken from the Roman Empire, and these designs
would be considered appropriate for a goddess. The builders used
these "female" architectural features because this church is
dedicated to St. Barbara. The engineering achievement of Mission Santa Barbara is the result of the
combined efforts of Chumash Indians, Spanish and Mexicans.
The mission has twin bell towers and a stone front seen in this picture.
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The garden is on the other side of this arch. Originally the garden
area was where the Indians learned a trade. Workshops and some living
quarters were located in the surrounding buildings. Today the
quadrangle buildings house offices and classrooms.
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In the center of the main altar, under the crucifix, is a wooden statue of
Saint Barbara. The sanctuary light in the foreground has burned
continuously since 1786.
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The cross is above a gate in the cemetery. Early settlers, as well as
almost 4,000 Indians are buried in this cemetery.
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