Church of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe
Also known as: San Fernando Cathedral
Why it's listed
San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio grew from the parish church of Villa San Fernando de Bexar, the first civil settlement in the Spanish Province of Texas, founded in 1731. The original Spanish Baroque church, built of rough limestone on a cruciform plan, was begun in 1728 and completed in 1749. By 1840 it was nearly in ruins and was renovated. Between 1868 and 1873 a Gothic Revival church of cut limestone, designed by Francis Giraud, was built over it, keeping the old apse and transept as its sanctuary. The church became a cathedral in 1874, and Leo Dielman designed a chancery added in 1922. Its history is linked to the Texas Revolution: James Bowie married there in 1831, a victory flag was raised in its tower in 1835, and in 1837 the remains of the Alamo defenders were brought to the church for a ceremony. It remains one of the few surviving Spanish colonial structures in Texas.
Significance in brief: It was the original parish church of the Villa San Fernando de Bexar, the first civil settlement (1731) in the Spanish Province of Texas. It is one of a few surviving structures from the Spanish colonial period in Texas. It is also tied to events of the Texas Revolution, including James Bowie's 1831 marriage there and the 1837 ceremony for the remains of the Alamo defenders.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75001949, listed February 25, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 Main Ave., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | February 25, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001949 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries |
| Architect / builder | Francis Giraud (1868-73 church); Leo Dielman (1922 chancery) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (over an original Spanish Baroque colonial church) |
| Areas of significance | Hispanic, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site, and in religious use as a cathedral. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Main and Military Plazas Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.42449, -98.49433 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75001949.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4347159
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.