What secrets lie buried beneath the floorboards of Mission San Fernando Rey de España? Our journey today takes us to this historic landmark in the Mission Hills community of Los Angeles. Founded on September 8, 1797, Mission San Fernando Rey de España stands as the seventeenth of California’s twenty-one Spanish missions. Named for Saint Ferdinand, the mission lent its name to both the nearby city of San Fernando and the sprawling San Fernando Valley. This “Mission of the Valley” holds a captivating tale of faith, resilience, and surprising discoveries.
The mission’s story begins with Father Fermín Lasuén, who, along with Fray Francisco Dumetz, established this sacred site. Originally located at the site of Achooykomenga, a Tongva settlement, the mission land was acquired from Francisco Reyes, then Alcalde of the Pueblo de Los Ángeles. The first church, a modest adobe structure, was quickly outgrown as the mission community flourished. A larger church replaced it, only to be superseded by the impressive adobe and tile-roofed structure blessed in 1806. Over the next decades, workshops, living quarters, and even a convento were added. The mission became a bustling hub of activity.
Mission San Fernando wasn’t just a center for spiritual life. It was a self-sufficient community. The neophytes cultivated vast vineyards, producing both wine and aguardiente. Olive groves provided oil. Fields of wheat, barley, and various fruits and vegetables thrived. The mission workshops hummed with activity. Weaving, carpentry, and blacksmithing were just some of the trades practiced. The mission even supplied the local presidio with goods, though this sometimes strained relations between the mission and the military.
The mission’s prosperity faced challenges. The Mexican War of Independence strained resources, and secularization in 1834 brought significant changes. The mission’s lands were divided, and its role shifted. Yet, Mission San Fernando Rey de España persevered. It served as a stagecoach stop, a warehouse, and even a hog farm. It wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that restoration efforts began in earnest, breathing new life into the aging structures.
But there’s more to this mission than meets the eye. In 1842, gold was discovered near the mission. While the gold rush was short-lived, it left a lasting impact. Prospectors dug up the church floor, hoping to find hidden riches. Another remarkable find is a Russian Orthodox bell. Discovered in 1920, the bell bears an inscription indicating its origin in Kodiak, Alaska. How it arrived at Mission San Fernando remains a fascinating mystery. Today, the mission grounds serve as a museum, showcasing artifacts and relics from its rich past. The church, rebuilt after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, is a chapel of ease. And within the serene Bob Hope Memorial Gardens, the beloved comedian rests, a testament to the enduring legacy of Mission San Fernando Rey de España.