getting religion in santa fe

read willa cather's death comes for the archbishop while i was out there, and it colored nearly everything i saw, from acoma to the great cathedral basilica of st francis in santa fe --- the original church (1626) was destroyed in the pueblo revolt of 1680 --- a second adobe church was built 1715-1717 --- it was mostly torn down when the present cathedral was built 1869 - 1886, its origins fictionalized in cather's book --- la conquistadora chapel, which was part of the original church, is incorporated into the present building

at least the joists of the chapel date to 1715, if not earlier --- the decking is probably (accurately) reconstructed in the 19th or 20th c

the bronze doors were added in 1986

the image of our lady of the rosary was brought from spain in 1626 when the first church was built soon after the founding of santa fe as the capital of nuevo mexico --- although the church was destroyed, except possibly for its adobe walls, the image of the virgin survived the pueblo revolt

christian imagery is often very morbid