San Diego de Alcala was the very first mission church in California and was founded in the year 1769. The church is rich in history and it marks the birthplace of Christianity in California. The church mission was originally founded by a father sierra however the mission struggled to grow due to various reasons from war to conflict with natives and problems with the land. The church is rich in history and now stands as a catholic parish attracting tourists from across the world to witness its rich history, legacy and Spanish roots.