SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson on Wednesday presented Mission San Juan Capistrano officials with a check for $1.1 million for restoration and preservation of the Great Stone Church. State Sen. Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) and representatives from Rep. Ron Packard’s (R-Oceanside) office also attended the ceremony, which fell on the 187th anniversary of a powerful earthquake that destroyed most of church, killing 40 people.

The mission was selected last month as one of 16 countywide projects to receive money from the Orange County Transportation Authority because of the mission’s importance to the county and the urgency of the project.

The restoration work will include retrofitting the building to better withstand earthquakes, stone conservation, waterproofing and repairs necessitated by water damage and erosion.