<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Website </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> http://www.oldmissionsjb.org/ </Td> </Tr> <P> Mission San Juan Bautista is a Spanish mission in San Juan Bautista, San Benito County, California . Founded on June 24, 1797 by Fermín Lasuén of the Franciscan order, the mission was the fifteenth of the Spanish missions established in present - day California . Named for Saint John the Baptist, the mission is the namesake of the city of San Juan Bautista . </P> <P> Barracks for the soldiers, a nunnery, the Jose Castro House, and other buildings were constructed around a large grassy plaza in front of the church and can be seen today in their original form . The Ohlone, the original residents of the valley, were brought to live at the mission and baptized, followed by Yokuts from the Central Valley . Mission San Juan Bautista has served mass daily since 1797, and today functions as a parish church of the Diocese of Monterey . </P>

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