The Saint Francis of Asis Catholic Church is located in the northern New Mexico town of Ranchos de Taos. It was constructed between 1772 and 1816 and is still an active church. It is built of adobe and the church members spend two weeks in June ever year remudding the exterior with a mixture of mud and straw. If you look closely you can see the straw in the exterior walls. It is considered to be Spanish Colonial architecture.
It was designated at National Historic Landmark in 1970 by the National Park Service.
It’s obviously well loved by the parishoners.
The church has been a favorite subject for years by artists and photographers including Georgia O’Keefe and Ansel Adams. (Check the links for images of the art work.) The artists have focused almost exclusively on the back of the church which has three massive beehive shaped buttresses. I guess that I am not artist because I find the front of the church to be much more interesting.
The interior is gorgeous. The altar looks beautiful. I brightened the image above so you could see but did not advance beyond the closed entrance door. It was almost pitch dark and did not want to disturb anyone who might be in there praying.
I’ve been seeing this church almost my whole life. Whenever we went through the area when I was a kid we would stop and look. I think it has an almost magical presence. It had been almost 30 years since I last saw it though before our recent trip and I still love it.
I am linking with Skywatch Friday
I love the simplicity and beauty of this church! It is beautifully maintained. I don’t remember ever visiting it, but maybe I was on one of those trips. Thanks for sharing!
…you captured the beautiful architecture well.
What an absolutely captivating church! No wonder it inspires artists. I once visited the St. Francis basilica in Italy but can barely remember its beauty, only the hill we climbed to get there and the doves that flew with graceful ease off the surrounding ledges into the sky. It was a stirring sight.
Beautiful architecture, both inside and out. Something special about those old adobe walls!
Beautiful church. Unusual design.
I love this church – the history, the architecture, and the parishioners who apply mud each year. It is a beauty.
Lovely building!
What a pretty church, beautiful photos!
Take care, have a great weekend.
The only adobe I know is the tech software photoshop company 🙂 Seriously this is interesting. Need to pay a visit in the hopefully not-too-distant future.
So beautiful Church, Amazing photos.
Happy weekend, Greetings.
It is a beautiful church and shows the love its parishioners have for it – obviously well taken care of. The color is so pleasing contrasted with the blue sky. I never would have guessed 18th century from its condition. I viewed the Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe links and found them interesting, but I prefer the simplicity of the front. I like everything about it. Alana ramblinwitham
Gorgeous photos of the Taos church and blue sky of New Mexica ~ ~ have fond memories of our visit there several years ago ~ thanks,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Beautiful sky and church. Have a wonderful weekend.
What beautiful flowers.
Linda foto. Te mando un beso.
Such a wonderful church and I love to read more about it. Gorgeous color contrast in your lovely photos too.
It’s very pretty. I like adobe. The sky is almost too blue to believe!
It’s a beautiful church!