Mission Churches of Mora County
The chapter opens with discussion of the restoration of San Rafael in La Cueva as an illustration of how a few committed mayordomos (church caretakers) are struggling to save churches that have little parish and archdiocese support. Several interviewed mayordomos comment on the topic and explain the reasons for their commitment. The following section discusses the relations of church restoration to tradition, to community identity, and to social bonding, among other factors. The chapter also explores parish and archdiocese attitudes toward historic village churches in the context of depopulation and reduced congregations. Obsolescence of the churches is being accelerated by centralization of masses and sacraments, and by displacement of the cost of mission maintenance and insurance to the villages. The chapter concludes with a visiting guide.