Toward the southern side of Tucson there is an old Spanish church known as the Mission San Xavier del Bac. Recently, NPR discussed the cultural and historical significance of the church as a melting pot of cultures; Chicano, Spanish, Catholic, and Native American. While I was visiting the city my aunts took me to visit the Mission and it was an incredible experience.
The Mission has a distinctive Moorish-inspired architecture that blends with the landscape, but also signifies to visitors that it is an unusual and religious place. The pale exterior colors of the native mud plaster give way to vibrant and rich hues within the church. Much restoration goes into preserving the church because of the arid dessert climate and the materials used for construction.
The church is an exciting example of living history of similar churches that used to be more frequent throughout the region. It was great to see and learn about the historical precedent of the church, it's continual usage as a place of worship, and to hear about the dialogue in helping to preserve it for the future.
Unity Temple is an Unitarian Universalist house of worship that was designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Built at the beginning of the 19th century, the church is a wonderful example of Wright's personal beliefs and his aesthetic vision. The church is about to undergo a major year-long renovation that will update HVAC systems, structural issues, and preservation of the historical integrity of the building. The congregation will be moving it's services to a local Lutheran church from June 2015 to September 2016. John and I have been thrilled to have gone to several services inside the historic building before the major construction work begins and we can't wait to see how the renovations progress.
