Restoration of Mission Church

The Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano long has captivated the imagination of tourists and area residents alike. The years unfortunately have not been kind to this special piece of California history. A new $1-million state grant to revitalize restoration efforts is a significant development in the continuing struggle against the ravages of time.

The Great Stone Church was completed in 1806, the largest stone church west of the Mississippi at the time, and it became a significant structure in early 19th century California. An earthquake six years later knocked loose the bell tower, which collapsed. For much of the current decade, the dome has been encased in scaffolding, part of a long effort to hold it together for the preservation effort.

The $1 million is the result of a request by state Sen. Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) and Assemblywoman Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) to obtain state funding. The amount is far less than was requested, but it nevertheless is a significant enough amount to help in the second phase of the restoration project. Part of the money will be used to replace mortar in stone walls, to shore up pillars and to stabilize the dome. Stabilizing the dome will allow visitors to view restored paintings on the ceiling.

The church, built by the Juaneno Indians for the Spanish missionaries, is considered architecturally significant and something of a wonder. That is because a Greco-Roman temple was built in the wilderness some two centuries ago. When the restoration is complete, it will provide a significant link with an important chapter in California history.