The Santa Ysabel Asistencia was founded on September 20, 1818 at Canada de Santa Ysabel in the mountains east of San Diego (near the village of Elcuanam), the present-day City of Santa Ysabel . The "Church of the Desert" was consecrated by Father Fernando Martin as an asistencia ("sub-mission") to Mission San Diego de Alcalá.

By 1822 a chapel, granary, several houses, and a cemetery has all been constructed on the site. The native population of approximately 450 neophytes consisted of both the Luiseño and Diegueño peoples. Given its remote location, the facility was visited infrequently by the padres after secularization of the missions in the 1830s.

in 1850 the roof caved in and ramadas (shelters) were erected against one wall in order to that religious services could continue. Today nothing remains of the original structures due to neglect over the years. In 1924 a new "San Ysabel Chapel" was dedicated and is situated near the site of the former adobe.

The Santa Ysabel Mission Church functions today as a part of the Roman Catholic church.

Historic designations

• California Historic Landmark #369

See also

• Mission San Diego de Alcalá