Address
427 S. Junipero Serra Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
United States
Founded:
September 8, 1771 - The 4th California Mission
Also Called:
Mission San Gabriel
Current Status:
This is an active Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Summary:
San Gabriel Arcángel was founded on September 8, 1771. The unique San Gabriel church features a Moorish “fortress-like” appearance. Mission San Gabriel has a full set of the Stations of the Cross painted by mission neophytes, and a large number of artifacts and historic items on display on the grounds.
427 S. Junipero Serra Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
United States
San Gabriel is about nine (9) miles east of Los Angeles. Take I 10 east to Exit 23B (Garfield Avenue). Take Garfield Avenue South to Mission Road East. The mission will be on the left at the juncture of Mission Road and Junípero Serra Drive.
626-457-3048 - Mission Gift Shop
626-467-3035 - Church Rectory
Please contact the mission directly by telephone or by visiting the mission website for the most current information.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is best to check for current information.
Both Parishioners and non-Parishioners are welcome. Requirements, arrangements, and details on the Marriage/Weddings" sacrament can be found by visiting the parish website.
1834
1859 by Decree signed by President James Buchanan
Gabriel, Holy Prince of Archangels
In the mission era, the natives who spoke one of the Cuban or Cupeño languages of the Takic family were called Gabrieleño after the mission. Known now as the Tongva, the descendants were recognized as a distinct tribe by the State of California in 1994. They have sought Federal recognition for decades.
The mission was originally established along the slopes of the Montebello hills at the native site of Shevaanga, overlooking the San Gabriel Valley. In 1775, the mission was relocated to the native site of Iisanchanga "about a league" (three (3) miles) to the northwest. This mission is nine (9) miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Traditional quadrangle with soldiers' barracks, neophyte housing, warehouses, and other structures (forming a second incomplete quadrangle) extending out from the central compound.
The Rio Hondo and several springs fed an aqueduct, reservoirs, and a canal system that provided abundant water to the mission and its extensive vineyards, orchards, gardens, and mills.
Within fifteen (15) years of its founding, San Gabriel had 1,000 neophytes. The highest population recorded was 1,701 in 1817.
Starting with only 128 animals in 1772 the mission herd reached 42,350, primarily cattle (25,000) and sheep (15,000) at its peak in 1829. Even though Mission San Gabriel was secularized in 1834 and did not become a Parish Church until 1859, the area continued to be a center for cattle and sheep ranching.
Over its active life, San Gabriel was far more productive than any other mission in California harvesting over 353,000 bushels of wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils, and garbanzos (chickpeas).
The unique San Gabriel Church, completed in 1805, features a Moorish "fortress-like" appearance with capped buttresses and long narrow windows along the prominent side wall. The style is similar to the Cathedral in Córdoba, Spain.
Six bells occupy an espadaña or bell wall. The oldest bells were cast in Mexico City in 1795 by the famous bell maker, Paul Ruelas. The largest bell (dated 1830) weighs over a ton and was used for over a century to ring the Angelus, a prayer said at morning, noon, and evening in commemoration of the Incarnation.
The Stations of the Cross are said to be authentic neophyte Indian paintings. They were exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbia Expedition in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the New World.
Mission San Gabriel's unique church, featuring a Moorish "fortress-like" appearance, was completed in 1805. The mission was never abandoned and became a parish church after it was secularized in 1834.
The Historical Image Gallery features historic illustrations, important paintings, as well as drawings of events that took place at this crossroads mission. The missionaries at San Gabriel guided the development of the parish church in the pueblo of Los Angeles, nine (9) miles distant.
The Contemporary Image Gallery contains more recent photographs taken by several different photographers from around the Church gardens and the Church interior.