Built in 1939 and dedicated in 1940, the adobe church, on upper Canyon Road just east of the downtown area, is an impressive monument to the Spanish-Revival period of northern New Mexico, and features a great stone retablo behind the altar, which faces east and is illuminated by the morning sun shining through the clerestory windows.
Over 150,000 adobe bricks were used in the construction of the church, and were made on the site and laid by the parishioners. The building of the church was completed in 14 months.
The retablo was carved in 1760 by artisans employed by Governor Francisco Antonio Martin de Valle. The stone came from a quarry northeast of Santa Fe. The large crucifix which hangs to the right of the retablo, was moved from a chapel at Valencia, New Mexico in 1938.
We were at Cristo Rey this past week. Dressed up for Christmas, the church was even more special and beautiful than ever.
3 comments:
Those old NM churches are amazing.
I agree, Lou. While the beauty of St. Francis Cathedral on the Plaza in Santa Fe leaves me breathless, it is the little adobe New Mexico style churches that are the most beautiful and unusual to me.
...it is the little adobe New Mexico style churches that are the most beautiful and unusual to me.
Agreed. And there are so MANY of 'em, too.
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