Mission Santa Clara de Asís
Mission Santa Clara de Asís, shown in 2008 | |
Location in Santa Clara County | |
| Location | Palm Drive and Alviso Street intersection, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°20′57″N 121°56′29″W / 37.3493°N 121.9415°W |
| Name as founded | La Misión Santa Clara de Asís |
| English translation | The Mission of Saint Clare of Assisi |
| Founding date | January 12, 1777 |
| Founding priest(s) | Father Presidente Junípero Serra |
| Founding Order | Eighth |
| Military district | Fourth |
| Native tribe(s) Spanish name(s) | Bay Miwok, Tamyen, Yokuts Costeño |
| Native place name(s) | Socoisuka |
| Baptisms | 8,536 |
| Marriages | 2,498 |
| Burials | 6,809 |
| Neophyte population | 1,125 |
| Secularized | 1836 |
| Governing body | Santa Clara University; Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose |
| Current use | University of the chapel; Parish church |
| Reference no. | #338 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Mission Santa Clara de Asís (Spanish: Misión Santa Clara de Asís) is a Spanish mission in the city of Santa Clara, California. The mission, which was the eighth in California, was founded on January 12, 1777, by the Franciscans. Named for Saint Clare of Assisi, who founded the order of the Poor Clares and was an early companion of St. Francis of Assisi, this was the first California mission to be named in honor of a woman.
It is the namesake of both the city and county of Santa Clara, as well as of Santa Clara University, which was built around the mission. This is the only mission located on the grounds of a university campus. Although ruined and rebuilt six times, the settlement was never abandoned, and today it functions as the university chapel for Santa Clara University.