Historic New Mexico Churches

by Annie Lux, Daniel Nadelbach (Photographer)

Churches have played a major role in New Mexico's culture and history since the earliest days of its colonization. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 photographs by Daniel Nadelbach, Historic New Mexico Churches tells the story of New Mexico through its their history and legends, and the people who built them. From the massive mission churches built by the Franciscan friars during the days of the conquistadors through the smaller adobe chapels lovingly created by Spanish settlers to the grand Gothic and Romanesque edifices erected by New Mexico's first bishop, the book leads readers on a journey through war and famine, growth and expansion, rebellion and reconciliation.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2007

Reviews

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Lux writes, "In New Mexico, historic churches are as much a part of the cultural landscape as Adobe and green chili. In Santa Fe alone you’ll fine Archbishop Lamy's grand Cathedral of Saint Francis and the San Miguel Chapel (Known as the Oldest Church in the United States), as well as the Loretto chapel with its miraculous staircase and the Santuario de Guadalupe with its famous alter screen. At some of the pueblos 400-year-old-churches stand amid structures sometimes hundreds of years older. And and if you drive the back roads and byways of the state as I did you’ll see other is the smaller churches the roadside chapels occasional larger church for what it is or once was a larger community. They’re everywhere."

I devoured this book on Kindle but had to buy the hardcover version to keep it forever.

I have only been to Santa Fe one time in my life and honestly I thought everything I was seeing was all revival style. Not exactly a Disney-fied style, exactly but I can say I did not understand the architecture--the way Santa Fe is the second oldest city in the US with very old building and churches that survive to this day, blended with a revival style, made famous by John Haw Meem. The revival style is so conceived that that in many ways it makes it hard to understand that the area is home to some of the most historic structures east of the Mississippi.

I was particularly impressed with her chapter on the historic churches of the High Road to Taos.

Frank Graziano also has a fantastic book. I read that one first, and I think both are must-reads. Graziano's is written with a stronger focus on the current situation of the churches--their upkeep and conservation with an emphasis on cultural anthropology--while Lux's is more historical. Lux's also has stunning photographs, by Daniel Nadelbach. It is a beautiful work that I will treasure.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to the different styles and influences of historic New Mexican churches, both in ruins and restored.

[Lorene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The photographs alone are worth looking at in this book, but the history of the art, architecture and survival of these churches is very interesting. The paper used in this book is lovely to see and feel, and it heightened the experience of reading this history.