Missions of California - San Rafael Arcángel

Founded December 14, 1817, by Father Vicente de Sarria, Mission San Rafael Arcángel was originally planned to be an asistencia (sub-mission) of Mission San Francisco de Asis. The 20th mission in the chain, it was established as a hospital to treat those who grew ill from the damp weather.

Never intended to be a full mission, it quickly grew and was granted mission status on October 18, 1822. By 1828 its population had grown to over 1000, with the converts becoming skilled boat builders, blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers and farmers.

After secularization the buildings were abandoned. The mission was used by John Fremont during the Mexican War in 1846. In 1847 a priest was once again living at the mission and a new parish church was built near the old chapel ruins in 1861. In 1949 Monsignor Thomas Kennedy rebuilt and restored the chapel. Today Mission San Rafael Arcangel sits next to the parish church of St. Raphael on the site of the original hospital.