Mission Santa
Clara de Asis Eighth
Mission Founded 12 January 1777 by Father Junipero Serra
Naming of Mission:
Santa Clara de Asis was
named for Saint Claire of Assisi, the founder of the Poor Clares
order of nuns. This was the first mission named for a woman.
Location:
in the city of Santa
Clara, south of San Francisco, on the campus of the University of
Santa Clara.
History:
Once the San Francisco
mission was found, the padres desired to begin another mission
further south. This mission was delayed a few months because of
Indian uprisings at the San Luis Obispo mission, but ultimately, the
Santa Clara de Asis Mission was founded on 12 January 1777 by Father
Junipero Serra with the actual ceremony conducted by Father Thomas
de la Pena. After about six months, a large group of colonists from
Mexico settled in the area. The Fathers were not happy with the
arrangement because the neophytes were greatly influenced by
"outsiders." Their efforts to keep the pueblo and the
mission separate resulted in the cities of Santa Clara (Mission) and
San Jose (Pueblo). Many tensions occurred between the two, but much
of the trouble ended once a road was built to link the mission and
the pueblo. Over 200 local Indians built the road.
The first buildings at the
mission were slow in completion as there were few helpers to build
them. A Lt. Moraga, Father Thomas de la Pena, a few Indians and some
soldiers with their families were all who were there to help build
the mission. The completed church was 100 feet long, 44 feet wide
and 25 feet high.
The local Indians were
helpful and also adapted well to the mission life. They learned
trades and other skills which would help them in their lives. Father
Jose Viader was also a big factor in the success of the mission,
teaching them many things, including music. He even established a
mission choir which was well-known throughout the state. Many Indian
children died here from an epidemic of measles soon after the
Spanish arrived. The people brought the children to the mission to
be baptized so they could receive medical help and possibly saved
from death. This mission led al the missions in the number of deaths
as well as in the number of baptisms.
The
mission was among the largest in the chain. They planted crops like
the other missions to help them be self-sufficient. They also
planted vineyards and had 5,000 head of cattle and 12,000 head of
sheep. Residents and visitors alike benefited from the large
agriculture programs of the mission. The orchards did well here as
did olive trees. The cowhides were sent east to Massachusetts to be
made into shoes and other leather goods.
The mission had hard times
as far as disasters go. It was abandoned in 1784 because of a large
flood. A new mission site was chosen on higher ground and new
buildings were erected. The quality of the work from skilled
builders and artists helped the new mission buildings to look more
professional. However, again, the work was thwarted when in 1818 an
earthquake basically destroyed the mission buildings. Once again,
the fathers re-built, completely the mission for a third time in
1825.
The mission property was
given to the Jesuits in 1851. Father John Nobili was put in the
leadership position and founded the University of Santa Clara, which
still exists today. The only portion of the original mission left is
a section of a garden wall. But the university chapel, which was
built in 1929 after the fire of 1926 destroyed the church, was
designed as a reproduction of the old mission church. The bell tower
at the mission holds the two original bells sent to the mission from
Spain by the King These bells are rung every evening at 8:30 as was
promised upon receipt of the bells. This was to be in memory of
those who had died. The old cemetery for the mission is now the rose
garden.
Contact the Mission:
Santa Clara
Mission Mission Santa Clara Santa Clara University Santa
Clara, CA 95053
Mission Trivia:
There is a cross in front
of the church. Actually, this is a cross within a cross. The new
cross was built over the old one which dates back to the early days
of the mission. There is a small window at the bottom of the cross
through which you may look to see the original wooden cross.
This
is the only mission to become part of a university. It is also the
oldest university in California.
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updated on 28 June 2012 at 3:12 pm
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