Old Mission
Founded 1804
Capuchin Franciscan
Santa Inés
Solvang, California
Sacred Heart Sisters
Mission Santa Inés


The Mexican Assembly passed the Secularization Laws in 1834. This legislation brought the Mission system to its end. The new laws confiscated the Mission lands, its produce and animals and placed them under the administration of local Mexican ranch owners. The mission priests were allowed a small parcel of land for their use and to administer to the spiritual needs of the remaining neophytes.

Additionally, all priests were required to take an oath of allegiance to the Mexican government. Those who remained loyal to Spain were deported to Spain. The Spanish Franciscans were replaced by Mexican Franciscans. The Mission churches became parish churches administering to the spiritual needs of the growing settler population.

Growing enmity between the new administrators and the Chumash resulted in most of the Chumash leaving the Mission and the final decline of the Missions.