Mission San Rafael Arcangel

 (1817-1833) - A Spanish mission established as an asistencia (sub-mission) of the Mission San Francisco de Asis in 1817 by Father Vicente De Sarria in present day San Rafael, Marin County, California. Later raised to full mission status in 1823 and associated with the Presidio of San Francisco. Named after the Arcangel Rafael. Secularized in 1833.

The Spanish Period (1769-1821)


Mission San Rafael Arcangel was the 20th California mission built (out of 21) late in the Spanish period. The mission was established on 14 Dec 1817 by Father Vicente De Sarria as an asistencia (sub-mission) of the Mission San Francisco de Asis to provide a place for the sick to recover. The asistencia became a full fledged mission in 1822 just as the Mexican Revolution came to an end.

Mexican Period (1822-1846)


Mission San Rafael Arcangel was the first California mission secularized and turned over to the Mexican government. By 1846, the mission itself had been fully abandoned and the remaining buildings sold off.

American Period (1846-Present)
During the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846, Captain John C. Fremont took over the Mission and used it as his headquarters, using the chapel as a stable. After California statehood in 1850 the Mission buildings were used by Marin County. The deteriorated buildings were torn down in 1861 and replaced with a small wooden church. Mission San Rafael Arcangel was returned to the Catholic Church in 1855.

Current Status
The current replica chapel was built in 1949 with a grant from the Hearst Foundation. Replicas of the church bells are hung on a cross beam structure in front of the replica chapel as they would have been on the original chapel. The original bells are in the Mission Museum on the side of the chapel. The replica chapel is a functioning house of worship and has more amenities than the original would have had. In addition to the replica chapel, bells and museum is a statue of Father Junipero Serra on the street side of the chapel. The current parish church (built in 1917) is centered on the entrance. Located in downtown San Rafael, Marin County, California.

Sources:

Links:
 * Wikipedia - Mission San Rafael Arcangel
 * Mission San Rafael Arcangel
 * Mission Tour - Mission San Rafael Arcangel