A New Mission for an Old Mission - Part 1

The Old Mission had to reinvent its own reason for existence numerous times throughout history.  In 1786, it was clear that this was to be a community of adult native converts and Spanish speakers had to attend the presidio chapel.  By the 1820's most baptisms were of the children of native converts.  In 1834 the Mexican government seized the mission trust lands and the ranching economy of the mission ended, so there was a need to change the business model. From 1841 to 1846, Bishop Garcia Diego lived at the mission and the church became a quasi-cathedral. In 1855, the friars started Our Lady of Sorrows Parish for the people of the town, but it was relinquished to Bishop Amat in 1856 and the friars all returned to the mission, which became a College to train missionaries. In 1858, the last adult native (a Yokut, not a Chumash) was baptized. The mission became known as the "Old" Mission because its original reason for existence was ended. 

From 1868 to 1877 the mission was a boarding school taught in English and Spanish, while the friars established churches in Carpinteria and Montecito. By 1885, the college was closed and the buildings were accepted into the German-speaking Province of "Herz Jesu" (Sacred Heart). Buildings were repaired and expanded to house a large friar community.