[p. 17] San Carlos Borremeo de Monterey
Mission San Carlos Borremeo de Monterey was founded June 3rd, 1770, on the inner shore of Monterey Bay, where the city of Monterey now stands, [p. 18] the exact location being marked with the statue of Junipero Serra, erected by the late Mrs. Jane Lathrop Stanford. Near the bay shore stands a cross, indicating the landing place of Fathers Serra and Crespi and near by is the old oak tree upon a branch of which they hung the bell, and under which the christening services were held. The Indians of that locality were more timorous than those of the South, and progress in gaining their confidence was somewhat slow, but within about three years, one hundred and seventy-five had been gathered into the church. The situation and surroundings were not satisfactory, however, and a few months later the mission was removed about five miles to the mouth of El Carmel river, on the beautiful Bay of Carmel., and while the mission was thereafter known San Carlos el Carmello, it officially retained its original title.
[p. 18 San Carlos Borremeo de Monterey, 1908d]
At this new mission Fathers Serra and Crespi began the study of the Indian language. Rev. Father Juan Crespi [1722-1783] was a native of Spain, being sixty-one years of age at the time of his decease, January 1st, 1783. He was buried near the main altar. It was here that Serra two years later passed away after a lingering illness, and his remains were laid beside those of Father Crespi.
It was not until July 7th, 1793, that the first stone of the new church was laid. It was built of soft, straw-colored stone, quarried near by, laid in lime made from sea-shells, gathered along the sea-beach, the roof being of red tiles. The church was dedicated in 1797, and the remains of the building, restored through the efforts of the Rev. Father Cassanova, pastor of Monterey, are to be seen today. On July 3rd, 1882, Father Cassanova opened the tombs. This was evidently done to reassure the world of the recorded fact that the sacred remains of those true disciples of Christ and pioneers of California, founders of the Missions, were there. At the services, the following entries from the parish records were read:
"Rev. Fr. Juan Crespi; born in Spain; died Jan. 1st, A.D. 1782, 61 years old, buried near the main altar, gospel side." "Rev. Fr. Junipero Serra, D.D., President of all the Missions; born in Majorca, Spain; died on the 28th of August, A.D. 1784, at the age of 71 years, buried in the Sancturary, fronting the altar of Our Lady of Seven Dolores, on the gospel side." "Rev. Fr. Julian Lopez, born in Spain; died here on the 15th of July, A.D. 1797, aged 35 years; buried in the Sanctuary, on the gospel side, in the tomb near the wall on the [p. 19] left." "Rev. Fr. Fransisco Lasuen, Vic. for Second President of the Missions, born in Spain, died here, and is buried in the Sanctuary, on the gospel side, in a stone tomb, near the main altar, June 28th, 1803."
The heavy stone slabs having been removed before the ceremony began, the coffin in each tomb was left visible. The lids of each was then raised and the people then viewed the remains of which only the clothing and the skeletons were seen. The tombs were then covered as before with the stone slabs. The coffins were of unplaned redwood boards, and all but that of Father Lasuen in a good state of preservation.
When the restoration of the old mission church was commenced in 1882, the tile roof had fallen in, the walls crumbled, and grass had grown upon the tiled floor. The resting place of the founder of the California missions was completely obliterated.
Throujgh the untiring efforts of Father Cassanova, and his band of sympathizers, the tomb of Serra and his beloved co-worker, Father Crespi, are in fairly good repair. Services are held here once a month by the resident priest of Monterey, and upon each occasion the old mission bell is rung.