New Mexico Tourism | Native American | Explore | San Agustín de la Isleta Mission

Ruins: Aztec Ruins National Monument, Bandelier National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, El Morro National Monument, Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument, Petroglyph National Monument, Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, Village of the Great Kivas
Missions: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zia, Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Porciuncula de los Pecos, Nuestra Señora de Purísima Concepción de Quarai, San Agustín de la Isleta Mission, San Buenaventura de Cochiti, San Esteban del Rey de Acoma, San Felipe Mission, San Gregorio de Abó Mission, San Ildefonso Mission, San Buenaventura de Humanas (Gran Quivira) and San Isidro, San José (Giusewa) de Jémez Mission, San José de Laguna, San Lorenzo de Picurís, San Miguel Mission Chapel, Santa Ana Pueblo Mission, Santo Domingo Mission, Santuario de Chimayó, Santuario de Guadalupe

San Agustín de la Isleta Mission

Isleta Pueblo itself dates back to the 1300s, more than 300 years before the arrival of the Spanish. Their conversion to Christianity was marked by the construction of the San Agustín de la Isleta mission, also known by its English name, Saint Augustine Church.

The church in Isleta is located in the center of the town and fronting upon a large public plaza. It is one of the largest and most important in New Mexico, and is flanked with extensive buildings used as a residence for the priest and for other ecclesiastical purposes. Constructed of adobe, San Agustín is 110 by 27 feet, with four-foot thick walls and four high windows.

One of the oldest Spanish missions in New Mexico, San Agustín is noted for the numerous changes to its exterior form. Built of adobe and terrones, San Agustín retains one of the most extensive inventories of 17th and early 18th century building features in New Mexico.

San Agustín is the patron saint of Isleta, and the church is dedicated to him. There is the old statue, about two feet high, carved in wood, with black beard and tonsured head; the robes decorated with the figured gold which is a distinguishing mark of the ancient wood carvings. There is also a newer statue of San Agustín, beautifully colored, and characteristic of the style introduced by French priests in the 1800s.

San Agustín de la Isleta Mission
Isleta Pueblo P.O. Box 1270
Isleta, NM 87022
Phone (505) 869-3111