Missions of California - La Purísima Concepción

Named by Father Fermin de Lasuen, Mission La Purisima Concepcion (The Immaculate Conception of Mary the Most Pure) honors the mother of Jesus. The eleventh in the mission chain, it was founded on December 8, 1787.

Soldiers and workmen from Santa Barbara arrived to assist with construction in early spring, and by the end of the summer 75 Native Americans had been baptized. Suddenly, on December 21, 1812, a massive earthquake struck. The new church, built close to a major fault, was completely destroyed. The devoted padres took control of the situation, and, starting anew, rebuilt La Purisima into a working mission in only four months.

When Father Payeras, who guided the mission for 19 years, passed away in 1823, Indian unrest ensued. The resulting revolt and standoff ended with the death and wounding of many Native Americans. Ten years later, secularization was instituted and mission life collapsed. The mission was acquired by Santa Barbara County in 1934, and with state and federal funding has been reconstructed and restored to represent the truest image of mission life.