The National Park Service writes, “Of earth, stones, and timber, but mostly earth, hulking pylonlike in silhouette, heavy, inert, functional, seemingly immutable but ever crumbling—praised, damned, and belatedly praised again—the Spanish mission churches of New Mexico issued from a union of European ideals and an outlandish environment. Permanent Christian occupation of the new Mexico, beginning in 1598 at the very end of Spain’s golden age of empire and religion, was in fact an extension, in both time and territory, of that earlier spectacular ministry.” Here are historic churches around New Mexico:

Church of San Isidro, Borica: I came across this small church by chance and have been unable to find information about when it was built, but it’s lovely! I noticed that several of the headstones have stars, which I wondered if it is a sign of Crypto-Judaism

San Agustín de la Isleta Mission: founded 1613

Mission San José de Laguna, Laguna Pueblo: built between 1699 and 1701

Santa Cruz de la Canada, Espanola: built in the 1730s

San José de Gracia Church, Las Trampas: built between 1760 and 1776

San Miguel Del Vado Parish: built in 1805

San Miguel, Socorro: built in 1821 on the ruins of an earlier church that was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt. It is one of the several other mission churches around Socorro

San Jose Catholic Church, San Jose: originally part of the San Miguel del Vado Land Grant, built in 1826

San Miguel Church, La Bajada: built in 1837

Capilla de Santa Rita de Cascia, Bernal: built in 1850

El Santuario de San Lorenzo, Bernalillo: built in 1857

San Rafael Church, La Cueva: “a beautiful gothic style adobe church built from 1862 – 1870“

Nuestra Senora de Luz Church, Cañoncito: built in 1880

Community Presbyterian Church, Jemez Springs: opened in 1881 as a school as well as church

Church of Nuestra Senora del Refugio, Puerto de Luna (near Santa Rosa): built 1882

Santa Rosa de Lima Chapel, Santa Rosa: built in 1890

Sacred Heart Church, Dilia: built in 1900

San Lorenzo Church, Polvadera: built in 1909

Chapel de Saint Helen, Pastura: built in 1926

Mission Chapel of Our Lady of Light, Lamy: built in 1926

San Ysidro Catholic Church in San Ysidro: built after World War II