New Mexico Mission Churches

The Missions of the Land of Enchantment are explored and uncovered in this fascinating account of the early churches and the people now fighting to save them. Before Spanish rule, the land now known as New Mexico was inhabited by many indigenous tribes and pueblos with their own religious beliefs. When conquistadors arrived to search for the Seven Cities of Gold, they created settlements in the pueblos they conquered and forced Catholicism on the people they enslaved. While several of these original missions were destroyed during the Revolt of 1680, the surviving churches are cherished by the communities they now serve. Author Donna Blake Birchell guides you through the unique histories of over twenty mission churches, their struggles and triumphs over the centuries, and the preservation challenges they now face.