Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Written by Levi Clancy

First published October 14, 2009 Last modified February 3, 2012

On an elevated piece of land, the superb structure of Mission San Luis Rey, the glittering whiteness of which was flashed back to us by the first rays of the day. At the distance in which we were and in the still, uncertain light of dawn, this edifice, very beautifully modeled and supported by its numerous pillars, had the aspect of a palace. (Auguste Duhaut-Cilly, 1827)

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was founded by Fathers Lasuen, Santiago and Peyri (Franciscan priests) and built by Luiseño natives, in modern Oceanside, California. It was dedicated June 13 1798, the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua. It was named after French king Louis IX and was known as King of the Missions due to its size, productivity and power, and for performing more baptisms and marriages than any other mission. At over 6 acres, Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was the largest building in California until the mid-1800s. Luiseno Indians had resided in the area for centuries prior to Spanish occupation.

Plaza
Museum
Peyri Court
Sacred Garden
Church
Cemetery
Soliders Barracks
Lavanderia
Carriage Arch
Pepper Tree
Gift Shop

Dedication of Mission

Dedication of Mission	13/06/1798	Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was dedicated on the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua. Father Antonio Peyri was placed in charge of the Mission.
Plans for Church	1811	Father Peyri and Father Geronimo Boscana signed plans for a permanent church and the foundations were laid the same year.
Dedication of Church	04/10/1815	Present church completed and dedicated on the Feast of St. Francis.
Church Repairs	1817	Repairs fixed masonry errors that had caused a leaky roof.
Mexican Independence	1821	Mexico won its independence from Spain and passed a Decree of Secularization. Each mission was given ten years to fulfill their goal of instructing the natives. At the end of ten years, the missions and their land would be handed over to the natives. No additional building was reported after Mexican Independence.
Mission’s Power Rises	1827	According to Father Peyri’s account, Mission San Luis Rey towered over all other missions: 22,610 head of cattle, 27,412 sheep, 1,120 goats and 1,501 horses. The Mission claimed extensive land and brought the surrounding 15 miles under cultivation. Its self-sustaining community used local materials, adobe, fired clay bricks and wooden timbers.
Great Heights	1829	A community of 3,000 neophytes flourished at the Mission by 1829. Its lands had been brought brought into grape, orange, olive, wheat and corn cultivation. Water was channeled from the river just north of the Mission to irrigate the fields.
California Record	1830	Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was the largest building in California.
Father Peyri Departs	01/1832	Father Antonio Peyri departed the mission.

Mexican Secular Era

In 1833, the Decree of Secularization was issued by Governor Echeandia. Secularization occurred later in Alta California. The Missions were turned into parishes and the lands became large ranchos upon being sold or gifted to colonists, military personnel or politicos. Various secular persons seized control of the Mission, its land and its livestock; the Luiseños were left with nothing. Under control of Pio Pico and other secular administrators, Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was plundered and left for ruin.

American Military Era (1847-1857)

Notable figures who served at the mission include General Stephen W. Kearney, Kit Carson and the Battalion of Mormon Volunteers. Some troops stationed a the mission were ordered to prevent its depredation. Others assisted local ranchers in its dismantlement so its building materials could be reused elsewhere.

Captain Fremont	08/1846	Captain Fremont took possession of Mission San Luis Rey.
Mormon Visitors	02/1847	The Battalion of Mormon Volunteers under Lt. Cooke camped at Mission San Luis Rey for six weeks.
American California	1850	California became part of the United States. The Catholic Bishop in California petitioned the US government to return the missions.

Abandonment (1860-1892)

Abandonment of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia led to its heavy destruction. Local settlers had begun reusing brick, roof tiles and wooden beams from the Mission for their own homes. The Mission walls eroded away, columns collapsed, the altar was stolen and the front doors were taken away. The cupola fell into the crossing.

Proclamation	18/03/1865	President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation that returned Mission San Luis Rey de Francia to the Catholic Church. This included the structure itself and 64 acres of land.

20^th Century Restoration

Franciscans Return	1892	A group of Franciscans from Zacatecas, Mexico sought refuge in California and asked the Bishop for a site to move their novitiate. They were assigned to Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. Father Joseph Jeremias O’Keefe was sent as an interpreter and to oversee the renovations of the church. The Church was walled off at the crossing to allow for rededication and to allow restoration of walls of the transepts and sanctuary, as well as the roof.
Renovations	1892-1912	Father O’Keefe repaired the church and rebuilt the permanent living quarters on the foundations of the old mission.
Church Superstructure	1893	New dome and cupola structures were completed over the crossing and north end of the Church.
Church Ceiling	1899	The church’s new wooden ceiling was completed.
Repairs Complete	1905	The work on the quadrangle and the church was complete.
Church Superstructure	1906	The dome and cupola were heightened.
Bell Tower Collapse	1926	The bell tower’s southeast corner collapsed, up to but not including the dome.
Bell Tower Repair	1927	The repair and reconstruction of the bell tower was complete, supposedly with reinforced concrete in some areas.
Franciscan College	1949	The quadrangle was partially rebuilt for the usage of a Franciscan college. It serves today as a Retreat Center.
Excavations	1950′s-1960′s	The Friars uncovered soldiers barracks and the lavanderia beneath layers of dirt.
Church Renovations	1984	A project was completed to stabilize and preserve the church exterior.
Getty Foundation	2004	The Getty Foundation gave Mission San Luis Rey de Francia a planning grant that was used to create the Mission San Luis Rey Seismic Retrofit Conservation Plan.

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