Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Weches, this was the first mission in Texas. In 1731, the mission was transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built at Espada in 1745. The church was completed in 1756.

The Training of Artisans

Following Spanish policy, Franciscan missionaries sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages and Spanish culture. In order to become Spanish citizens and productive inhabitants of mission communities, Native Americans learned vocational skills. As plows, farm implements, and gear for horses, oxen, and mules fell into disrepair, blacksmithing skills soon became indispensable. Weaving skills were also needed to help clothe the inhabitants. As mission buildings became more elaborate, mission occupants learned masonry and carpentry skills under the direction of craftsmen contracted by the missionaries.

After secularization, these vocational skills proved beneficial to post-colonial growth of San Antonio. The legacy of these Native American artisans is still evident throughout the city of San Antonio today.

Espada Acequia

Mission Espada's acequia (irrigation) system can still be seen today. The main ditch or acequia madre, continues to carry water to the mission and it’s neighboring farm lands. This water is still used by residents living its former mission lands.

The initial survival of a new mission depended upon the planting and harvesting of crops. In south central Texas, intermittent rainfall and the need for a reliable water source made the design and installation of an acequia system a high priority. Irrigation was so important to spanish colonial settlers that they measured cropland in suertes, the amount of land that could be watered in one day.

The use of acequias was originally brought to the arid regions of Spain by the Romans. When Franciscans missionaries arrived in the desert Southwest they found the system worked well in the hot, dry environment. In some areas, like New Mexico, it blended in easily with the irrigation system already in use by the Puebloan Native Americans.

In order to distribute water to the missions along the San Antonio River, Franciscan missionaries oversaw the construction of seven gravity-flow ditches, dams, and at least one aqueduct--a 15-mile network that irrigated approximately 3,500 acres of land.

Church at Mission Espada

Northeast elevation of Espada Church (photo: ca. 1905). The photograph depicts the reconstructed north wall and transept which were part of the improvements carried out by Father Francois Bouchu (1829-1907). The heavy vegetation around the church and adjoining courtyard at the time may be attributed to Father Bouchu's failing health. The pitched-roof structure in the background was his two-story home built ca. 1885.

Southeast elevation of the church at Mission Espada (photo: 1980). The photograph reveals the church's unique entrance and three bell espadana (bell tower). To the left of the unique doorway can be seen a wooden cross that legend claims was carried by the parishioners during time of dought as they led a procession around the compound praying for rain.