Capilla de San Isidro

The Capilla de San Isidro, or Chapel of Saint Isidore, is a Catholic Church in Los Fuertes, in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. It was built in about 1894. Saint Isidore is the patron saint of farming, and the church continues to play an important role in this largely agricultural community. Mass is celebrated in Spanish during the summer.

Hispano settlers moving north from New Mexico established Los Fuertes in the 1850s. They founded the village along Vallejos Creek, between San Pablo and San Francisco. As was customary in the area, the settlers placed their new town under the spiritual protection of a saint. In Los Fuertes, that saint-protector was San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isidore the Farmer). Many villages in this region celebrated his feast day on May 15 during spring planting.

The settlers in Los Fuertes and other Hispano villages typically built private oratorios, or chapels, soon after the towns were settled. A more substantial chapel was likely built in the 1870s. By this time, the Catholic church in the larger town of San Luis had an independent parish ministering to local mission churches in the area. 

In about 1894, the original oratorio was replaced by the Capilla de San Isidro. The church was one story and may have had a flat roof in the Hispanic Adobe style. Father Samuel García was the pastor of Sangre de Cristo Parish from 1894 to 1921. He modernized San Isidro with a gabled roof and cupola. These Anglo design elements made the building a good example of the Territorial Adobe style. Inside, the church had a wooden floor, brown plaster walls, a flat ceiling, and wooden benches.

During the tenure of Father Onofre Martorell, the pastor of Sangre de Cristo Parish from 1933 to 1962, the building received minor updates. Father Martorell stabilized or rebuilt most of the churches in the parish. He likely added a cement stucco coating to the adobe walls that sealed out moisture. The foundation was reinforced with a concrete apron. In addition, a small vestibule was built on the southern entry to both add space and prevent drafts. Since those slight alterations in the 1930s, the building has remained basically unchanged.

Capilla de San Isidro still plays a central role in the local community. During the summer, a priest from Sangre de Cristo Parish conducts Mass in Spanish at each local mission church in the area, including San Isidro. In addition, the community gathers at the church during Holy Week. They then carry a model of the church to San Luis for religious observances. The community also comes together at the church in May for the Feast of San Isidro and throughout the year for a variety of community events and religious celebrations.

In 2013 the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Capilla de San Isidro is a Catholic Church located in Los Fuertes, in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. Built in about 1894, it was dedicated to the patron saint of farming. Saint Isidore the Farmer’s feast day is May 15. In this agricultural region, many villages celebrated his feast day during spring planting. Today, the church continues to play an important role in the local community.

In the mid-1800s, Hispano settlers moved north from New Mexico into Colorado. They founded the village of Los Fuertes in the 1850s. It was located along Vallejos Creek, between San Pablo and San Francisco. Settlers in these Hispano villages typically built private oratorios, or chapels, soon after the towns were settled. The custom was to put towns under the spiritual protection of a saint. In Los Fuertes, that saint-protector was San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isidore the Farmer).

By the 1870s, the Catholic church in the town of San Luis had become an independent parish. It ministered to local mission churches in the area, including San Isidro. At that time, a larger chapel was likely built to replace the original oratorio.

In about 1894, that too was replaced. The new church was one story. It may have had a flat roof. This building style is known as Hispanic Adobe. Father Samuel García was the pastor of Sangre de Cristo Parish from 1894 to 1921. He modernized San Isidro with a gabled roof and cupola. These Anglo design elements made the building a good example of the Territorial Adobe style. Inside, the church had a wooden floor and benches, brown plaster walls, and a flat ceiling.

Father Onofre Martorell was the pastor of Sangre de Cristo Parish from 1933 to 1962. He stabilized or rebuilt most of the churches in the parish. He likely added a cement stucco coating to the adobe walls. This sealed out moisture. The foundation was reinforced with a concrete apron. In addition, a small vestibule was built on the southern entry. This both added space and prevent drafts. Since then, the building has remained basically unchanged.

Capilla de San Isidro still plays a central role in the local community. During the summer, Mass is still conducted in Spanish. During Holy Week, the community gathers at the church. They carry a model of the church to San Luis for religious observances. The community also gathers at the church in May for the Feast of San Isidro.

In 2013 the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the middle of the 1800s, Hispano settlers left New Mexico. They moved north into the San Luis Valley of Colorado. In the 1850s, they founded the village of Los Fuertes. The settlers were mostly farmers. They asked a saint named San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isidore the Farmer) to protect them.

At first, villages had small oratorios, or chapels. These are places to give sermons. Homes had private chapels. A larger chapel was built in the 1870s. Then, about 1894, Los Fuertes built a new church. They named it Capilla de San Isidro (the Church of Saint Isidore). San Isidro’s feast day is May 15. People celebrated this feast when they planted spring crops.

At first, this church had one story and a flat roof. This is the Hispanic Adobe style. Father Samuel García was the pastor. He served from 1894 to 1921. He added a gabled roof and cupola. These changes made it part of the Territorial Adobe style. Inside, it had a wooden floor and benches. The walls were brown plaster.

Later, Father Onofre Martorell became pastor. He served Sangre de Cristo Parish from 1933 to 1962. The priest rebuilt many of the local churches. Cement stucco was put on the adobe walls. This sealed out moisture. A concrete apron made the base stronger. A small room was added. This gave space and prevented drafts. Since then, the building is mostly unchanged.

The Capilla de San Isidro is still used and loved. In the summers, a priest comes. He conducts Mass in Spanish. During Holy Week, the community gathers. They carry a model of the church to San Luis for blessings. And in May they still celebrate the Feast of San Isidro. 

In 2013 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.