San Deigo Historic Site 239 MISSION SAN LUIS REY DE FRANCIA

Called the "King of Missions" for its size, wealth, and magnificence, this mission was named, appropriately enough, for a king, the crusading Louis IX,King of France. It was founded in 1798 by Fermin de Lasuen, who, as Father President, established nine missions, more even than were founded by Junipero Serra. In its architecture and construction, San Luis Rey was the work of FatherAntonio Peyri. The effect, a combination of Spanish, Mexican, Moorish, and Italian styles, is of a rarely graceful beauty, especially the church itself,the most massive adobe building in California. The mortuary chapel is a unique feature. As in the church the art work on the walls gives a strong feeling of an early, valiant age of faith in California.

The beloved Father Peyri saw to the needs of Indians throughout the time of the growth and prosperity of the King of Missions. He continued to administer all departments of the establishment almost until the first secularization order. The story of this mission is his personal history. When he left it was in the dead of night, to prevent his neophytes from following. However, they discovered what had happened. In an attempt to keep him from leaving them, they mounted mission horses and set out in pursuit, but only arrived in San Diego in time to see him dropping down the bay on the poop of an outbound ship. The scene, with the padre blessing the Indians, who were swimming their horses after the ship, is one of the most moving of California history.

In 1846 Governor Pio Pico achieved a final alienation of the property from the church, but in 1865 Abraham Lincoln authorized the return of San Luis Rey to Bishop Alemany of Monterey. In a sorry condition, the church had been used as an army post, then abandoned. Now it is a college for the training of Franciscans.