THE PRESIDIO CHURCH AT MONTEREY Before leaving San Carlos it will be well to explain the facts in regard to the Mission church at Monterey.

Many errors have been perpetuated about this church.

There is little doubt but that originally the Mission was established here, and the first church built on this site.

But as I have elsewhere related, Padre Serra found it unwise to have the Indians and the soldiers too near together.
In the establishment of the Missions, the presidios were founded to be a means of protection to the padres in their work of civilizing and Christianizing the natives.

These presidios were at San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara.