This mission was built between 1751 and 1758 by Junipero Serra himself and was consecrated to Santiago Apostol which is the same as Apostle St James.
This one, will be the first of five missions to be built, but this particular one was named with the title of “ DEFENDER OF THE FAITH”, and will be aimed to strengthen the new Catholic dogma, fulfilling the important work of evangelization.
Looking at the lower part of the front facade of this exuberant building, you will see a unique iconographic detail: The Mexican-Hispanic double headed eagle. On the upper part you will see at left the carved in quarry imagen of our Lady of Guadalupe and on the right The Virgin of Pilar, both Spiritual patrons of Mexico and Spain, that were lined up at the same level to symbolize a “force equality” in both worlds.