Upper California’s fourth mission was named for St. Gabriel, the angel of the Annunciation sent to Mary at Nazareth, to tell her of her destiny. He also came to Zechariah and told him of the birth of John the Baptist. The prophet Daniel heard of the coming of the Messiah from this angel.

Saint Gabriel, The Archangel

The site of this mission is near the aptly named Rio de los Temblores, or River of Earthquakes. This mission was a victim of numerous tremors throughout its history. The church’s fortress-like appearance with buttresses capped by pyramids is credited to Friar Antonio Cruzado who is said to have loosely modeled the structure after the mosque of Cordova in Spain. A picturesque belfry at the rear of the church containing six bells replaced the church’s bell tower lost to the earthquake of 1812.

This mission was founded on September 8,1771 and moved to its present site in 1776. In its fertile valley, San Gabriel became the wealthiest of all the missions. After secularization in 1834, San Gabriel became a parish church of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles.