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The Royal Presidio Chapel
of San Carlos Borromeo, also known as San Carlos Cathedral, is the
oldest building in Monterey and the only remaining original chapel
of the four Spanish Presidios that once existed in California. It is
the longest continuously active church in California, established on
June 3, 1770 when Father Junípero Serra said the first Mass under
what became known as the Vizcaíno-Serra Oak. Father Serra was part
of the Portolá Expedition sent by King Carlos III to establish his
capitol of Alta California in Monterey on the bay that Vizcaíno
discovered in 1602. Mass was celebrated in temporary structures at
the newly established Presidio of Monterey until an adobe chapel was
completed circa 1772. The current building was completed in 1794 and
the transepts were added in 1858. It is unique in being the first
building constructed of cut-stone in California and the first
designed by an architect. It became California’s first cathedral
when the Holy See erected the first Diocese of Monterey which lasted
from 1849-1859. It again became the Cathedral of the Diocese of
Monterey in 1967 when the diocese was reestablished. The smallest
cathedral in the continental United States, it was named a National
Historic Landmark in 1961. During a recent seismic retrofit that
included an archeological dig, many historic discoveries were made,
including finding original wall decorations and windows, the
foundations of the adobe chapel, locations of original Presidio
buildings, and artifacts such as pottery shards, tools, shells,
animal remains and a 1779 Spanish coin. Examples may be seen in the
small Heritage Center Museum in the administrative building adjacent
to the church.
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Our Lady of Guadalupe
Completed in 1794, this
bas-relief is the oldest
non-native sculpture in
California. Manuel Ruíz,
the master stonemason in
charge of the construction
of The Royal Presidio
Chapel is the probable
sculptor.
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Original Holy
Water Font
Two
original Holy Water
Fonts were found during
the seismic retrofit. Both
can be seen in “Windows
of History” as you enter
the cathedral. All of the
original patterns have
been dated to the late 18th
and early 19th centuries.
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Grape Lattice
Pattern
One
original decorative
pattern consisted of grape
clusters inside a lattice. In
replicating this pattern,
local artists hand-painted
each grape unique cluster.
The lattice pattern also
was reproduced in the
reredos glass.
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Columns & Arches
Columns and
arches
decorated the nave walls,
highlighting the sculptures
over the interior entrances
to the original bapistry
and sacristy. In 1858 the
sculptures were moved to
the new transept doors.
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Stations of the Cross
The Stations of
the Cross
were painted in Rome in
the late 19th century for
Holy Cross Church in
Santa Cruz. The pastor’s
mother is the lady in white
in the 8th station. They
were donated to San
Carlos in 1953.
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St. Anthony & the Child
The unusual robe
of this
wooden statue has silver
threads. The artist may
have meant to portray St.
Anthony as he appears in
heaven. It is thought to
have been in the church
since the late 18th century.
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The Immaculate Conception
This wooden
statue circa
1750 contains fine scrafito
work of gold, typical of
Spanish art of this era.
Earrings used to be placed
in the statue’s pierced ears
on special occasions.
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St. Joseph & Baby Jesus
This is an
18th-century
wooden statue. The child
Jesus is not original to the
statue but is of the same
period. Although named
for St. Charles Borromeo,
the chapel was initially
dedicated to St. Joseph.
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Mater Dolorosa
The statue of the
Mater
Dolorosa, also known as
Our Lady of Sorrows, has
been at San Carlos since
the mid-1800s. It depicts
the Blessed Virgin as she
would have appeared at
the foot of her Son’s cross.
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Crucifix
Father Angelo
Casanova
purchased this crucifix in
Barcelona in 1880. When
it was hung near the
entrance, parishioners
often touched or kissed
the foot, almost wearing it
away.
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