Easy to see how this beautiful New Mexico Spanish Colonial Church inspired artists like Georgia…read moreO'Keefe and Ansel Adams to capture its unique charm. With clean adobe lines and huge buttresses, it is an architectural and spiritual gem. Built between 1772 and 1816, it is the only original church which remains intact in the Taos area. As an active place of worship, the parishioners and the community members gather annually to re-plaster the historic adobe church. Known as "The Enjarre" or "The Mudding" of the church, volunteers mix an authentic blend of clay, sand, straw, and water into a thick mud paste. Layer by layer, the paste is applied from the top to the bottom of the church and then buffed with a sheepskin to reinforce the walls to be a resilient barrier to withstand the elements for another year. A bit tricky to find as the church is tucked away off the main highway, but definitely worth a visit.

This adobe mission church is one the most photographed in New Mexico. It's open to tourists and…read morealso on the trolley stop, with a quick visit to enjoy the garden and interior.

This is a friendly, clean and beautiful church. There is always plenty of parking and seating…read more Two masses. One in Spanish, one in English.

This is an amazing church full of history and great spirit. The people are amazing and Father…read moreDaniel is truly a blessing. Worth a drive from out of town to visit and experience the power that touches everyone here.

Ten years later, I brought Bob, Laurie, and Gayle back to El Santuario De Chimayo and on a Sunday…read moremorning before area services. They sell small empty containers to fill with the Holy Dirt, but we left it at a dab or 2 on Bob's knee and Gayle's neck. So far, the hoped for miracle has not yet occurred. This time around there's a Visitor's Center that I don't remember from before. I stopped in and was greeted by a very friendly volunteer. They also had a bunch of religious art on sale by local folks, which were well done, but not really my style. The Main Sanctuary and the Side room (with the Holy Dirt) in back were what I remembered. The "dirt" found at the well (pocito) in the room is considered holy because in this spot, the crucifix of "Our Lord of Esquipulas" was found in 1810. All that being said, Laurie and Gayle remarked that the Spanish depiction of their Catholicism here was behaps too dark, somber, and bloody. I guess the portrayal of negative consequences does resonate with some folks.

I absolutely love this church! From the holy dirt to the beautiful art gallery there is an…read moreexperience for those religious and non religious alike. It is such a beautiful drive getting to the church, and there is sick striking imagery throughout the area. I highly suggest making the drive and experiencing this one of a kind church!

What a blessing to have such a godly church and such a small town. We visited and were greeted…read morewarmly by many people in spite of the Covid limitations. Extremely biblical and moving Sherman.

Warm, welcoming small church with beautiful music and focus on local missions. Great place to find…read morecommunity. Visitors always welcome.

Wonderful little church with traditional worship. People were friendly and welcoming. The…read moresanctuary is beautiful as well.

Christ in the desert was the highlight of our road trip across the country…read more The brothers are monks and priests together taking a vow of silence and prayer. There is a gift shop, very much worth visiting. One can also spend overnight if planned ahead in their guest house which is powered by solar panels. BUT there is not cell phone service, at least I had none. They have their own cemetery and bury their residents upon their death, by the next day at noon. Quiet and peace was all about us, I will go back to spend some nights and eat my meals with the brothers

The 13-mile drive through the beautiful Rio Chama Valley sets the stage for the tranquility and…read morespiritual inspiration you will find at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Both a wonderful destination for a day trip and walk through the garden's meditative stations of the cross, or for a religious retreat. Besides the architecturally beautiful chapel, the Monastery also has a great religious store with a vast array of books, devotional medals, meditative guides, and gifts. Truly a special place.

What prompted me to investigate the ruins of this historic church in the middle of nowhere? I could…read moreregale you, Dear Reader, with a tale of the supernatural and/or metaphysical ("I felt inexplicably drawn here, as though the spirits of the 18th-century settlers had beckoned me all the way from San Antonio"), but the truth is much more mundane. I was on a road trip and needed to tinkle. The New Mexico Department of Transportation is stingy with rest areas, so this seemingly abandoned adobe structure seemed the perfect place to evacuate my bladder. Now, before you cry "blasphemy!", let me assure you that I did not desecrate this holy place with my sulfurous, asparagus-scented urea. No, I did my business several feet from the entrance. That's when I noticed the eerie beauty of the structure before me. My knowledge of New Mexican history is lacking, so I consulted Wikipedia and found the following article, which I have quoted verbatim. "Santa Rosa de Lima was an early 18th-century Spanish settlement in the Rio Chama valley, near the present-day town of Abiquiu in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. All that remains of this settlements are the ruins of its church. The church, on the plaza, was built around 1744, and was in use until the 1930s. Repeated raids by Utes and Comanches caused the settlement to be abandoned in 1747. In 1750, the Spanish founded a new settlement at the present site of Abiquiú, about a mile from Santa Rosa de Lima. Today the site of Santa Rosa de Lima is a ghost town, with substantial adobe ruins of the church, and mounds where the settlers' adobe houses stood. The site is private property, belonging to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Santa Rosa de Lima de Abiquiu was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978." As I poked around the ruins, I felt a sense of presence, the inexplicable kind of energy so common in places with long, storied histories. Just like sound is recorded onto vinyl, emotions and events often weave themselves into the very fabric of a structure, its bricks, its wood, or (in this case) its adobe/mudbrick. I touched the walls, closed my eyes, and visualized the religious rites that occurred here, the bloodshed, the suffering. Santa Rosa de Lima's palpable vibe is made all the more eerie by the cluster of crucifixes, sage bundles, and bottles of holy water placed at its northernmost wall. Is the Archdiocese of Santa Fe trying to keep some unspeakable evil force at bay? The lighting in my photos adds a vaguely sinister/ethereal patina reminiscent of the visual motif of Juan López Moctezuma "Alucarda," a delightfully sleazy supernatural Mexican horror film from the late 70's. I seldom post reviews of landmarks, but I wanted to document this strange little place. I imagine most travelers stumble upon Santa Rosa de Lima the same way I did. Did you over-imbibe on Hawaiian Punch? Do you suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia? If so, then pull to the side of the road and make a golden offering to symbolize the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Explore the grounds and bask in the odd energy of Santa Rosa de Lima.

This was a rare and very cool find. This abandoned town is off the beaten path a little bit in the…read moremiddle of nowhere.

Let me start by saying I am a member of Blaze Christian Fellowship, and have been attending this…read morechurch for quite some time (over 5 years). I love this church! The pastors are awesome, and are without a doubt fully committed to preaching the Gospel in it's entirety. Their focus on theology is refreshing, to say the least. If you have kiddos, they have an awesome children's ministry with a staff that have a real heart for children! They break down the Gospel, and teach it to the kids at their level (I'm always blown away with how much Gospel application is taught! The understanding my 6 year old gets during Sunday school is incredible! He actually gets mad at us when we miss church. LOL!). There is a true sense of community at Blaze that extends far beyond the walls of the church building, a real sense that you are surrounded by people who actually care, and are willing to walk alongside you through your ups and downs, which brings me to my next point: Community Groups. Community groups are awesome! I can't understate how vital community groups have been to me, personally, in my walk with Jesus! However, this is a huge part of the church that is not experienced by attending a Sunday service. Unfortunately, many people will never understand how important community groups are. There is something special about getting together, sharing a meal, and discussing the sermon that was preached. It's encouraging and challenging. In closing, as a resident of Santa Fe, NM, I have witnessed and participated first hand in meeting needs in our community alongside the members and staff of Blaze. It's a great place to attend if you're looking for a Bible believing, Gospel-centered church that doesn't compromise the message to fit into any mold. PS - If you'd like to listen to a sermon or two before you actually attend, check out the website: www.blazeonline.org

Beautiful, newly restored, historical Catholic church on the Enchanted Circle in Questa, NM…read more This is a place worth visiting. It is filled with beauty and history.