Mission San Francisco De Espada

Mission San Francisco De Espada was established March 5, 1731 along the San Antonio River. Originally known as San Francisco de Tejas in 1690, it was the first Mission established in Texas and continues to be the oldest living charter. The missions were built by the Native Americans of South Texas as the Spaniards influenced them to adopt their religion, language and culture as a means for a perfect society and improved life.

On our visit to The Mission Espada, I was interested to learn that the earliest foundation to our current society in South Texas was created so close to where i grew up, and am now living. It was amazing to think of the labor and thought that went into the beginning of what would later be essential to live.

One of the most crucial components introduced to the Indians was an Irrigation system better known as the Acequias. This system allowed crops to be watered as the water flows near the Mission Espada and other missions around. The San Antonio River was the source of the acequias and once built they extended over fifteen miles long. Many people living near the Mission still use the Acequias as a source of water today

Along with the technology of the acequias, the Spanish also converted their Catholic religion onto the Indians. A beautiful Church stands in the center of the Mission. It has a three bell tower also known as the espadana, very similar to the name of the mission. Many Indians were Baptized here and attended mass regularly. This was a great transformation for the Indians as they already had their own belief system.

The Spanish missionaries intended on the mission to last only ten years, but it lasted for many more years that that, eventually falling because of the low birth rates that did not hold up to population due to the European diseases the Spaniard had brought. Still it remains a remarkable site, that will continue to live on many more years.