The Spanish Mission style previously known as California Style originated during 18th century when the Franciscan Catholic Mission churches and monasteries were aiming to merge pre-Hispanic and the Christian faith. These mission efforts were concentrated in the Western region of the United States at the time in what is currently known as Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona which integrated regional styles and materials to help the missionaries assimilate with the culture that was already there. Spanish mission takes its influences from a number of styles including: Spanish Renaissance, Baroque, Moorish, Plateresque and gained popular acceptance around 1885. One example from that period is Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo in California which is a great example of this style with its sandstone exterior, curved parapet and bell towers.

Conservation efforts were also made to the sanctuary for the high altar’s grille. The candle soot, dust, and incense accumulated from years of continuous use made the grille’s appearance dingy and discolored. However, with meticulous cleaning and repairs, the luster of the grille returned. With the palette established, the pedestals, their statues, and frames fell in line and were repainted to enhance the overall composition and contribute gracefully to the rest of the interior. All of these small changes add up, revitalizing an already beautiful church that the parish can continue to cultivate. 

As Owen Jones states in the Grammar of Ornament about architecture, it is a “material expression of the wants, the faculties, and the sentiments, of the age in which is it created.” The influence of Spanish Mission is still relevant and is still being built today as proved by Church of the Little Flower and many others.

In recent years, demand has not stopped but increased, particularly in the South because of increasing Central and South American populations. With flexibility of the style and materials, it has become popular with various typologies from being a ubiquitous choice for houses to even train stations like the one in Santa Barbara, CA. Paired with local and inexpensive options for materials, this style is a popular choice for new construction.

Understanding the demand for these kinds of buildings now, perhaps one can make a push for classically influenced vernacular style and authentic craftsmanship that is accessible to the wider public. The establishment of style imbues the place with an identity and allows for the character and culture of an area to thrive more graciously. Then the community becomes something that cultivates its places and traditions. The demand for beauty and interest in sustainable, local materials has been growing. When architecture lends a sense of beauty and place, it becomes a destination worth seeing and a community worth participating in. When sacred architecture inspires, welcomes, and uplifts, we experience first-hand the peace and beauty of the faith on Earth.

The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) invites submissions for a special issue of the APT Bulletin on the building construction and craft trades.

This issue aims to enhance the understanding of building construction and craft trades in the effective execution of preservation technology projects. Submissions that examine historical and contemporary relationships within the trades, as well as those that address the international dimensions of trade work, are especially encouraged.

Authors are encouraged to submit abstracts by August 15, 2026. Each abstract must be 500 to 1000 words and include an outline of the article. Case studies must include what the author(s) learned from this case study and why it is relevant to the theme. Please submit up to four images and provide a biography of 50 words or fewer. Abstracts should be submitted to co-editors Ronald D. Staley, FAPT, APT RP, and David Riccio, AIC, APT RP, in care of Bulletin Interim Editor Josie Madison at bulletineditor@apti.org.

The deadline for final papers will be February 15, 2027. APT Bulletin articles contain between 1,500 and 4,500 words and six to ten illustrations (including tables); author guidelines can be found on the APT website. The final paper should not have been published elsewhere before submittal. Acceptance of an abstract is not a guarantee of publication. All manuscripts undergo peer review, which determines whether they will proceed to publication.

The Catholic Art Institute is pleased to present its inaugural Bernini Awards 2026 Call for Entry.

Named in honor of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose genius united faith, beauty, craftsmanship, and patronage in the service of the Church, the Bernini Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the creation, restoration, and support of Catholic sacred spaces and works of art.
 

Categories include:

Church Architecture — New Construction, Church Restoration, Artisanship & Craftsmanship,  Churches, Shrines & Ecclesiastical Buildings, Fine Arts, Interior Design, Landscape Design — Church and School Grounds, Student - Architecture & Art, Patronage  (nomination), and Stewardship (nomination).

Submissions are due by August 5th, 2026.