A subtle bell may be heard ringing down the street from Bakersfield College at the place where Berger and Water Streets meet.

Here an 800-pound bronze bell is pulled into action from its bell tower to remind the “La Loma” community that it’s time to push past the sanctuary doors and fill the pews to give praise as mass begins at the San Clemente Mission.

The “mission” holds a historical past as being one of the first chapels in the state of California to be discarded by the War Assets Administration. The chapel was once represented as a large investment by the army and was signed over to Father Thomas of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where it was established on the same day, Feb. 15, 1947.

It was soon after that Padre Francisco Garces introduced the idea and acronym of the word “mission” and was then established as the Mission of The Sacred Heart.

The exterior of the church is surrounded with visible artwork of iconic statues, saints and angels that were each hand sculptured of wood, carved and imported from Mexico.

Its architectural style of arched arcades and columns was influenced from the same design and construction as that of the 21 original Spanish-styled missions of California.

The mission survives off of small donations given to a passed-around collection basket during mass and volunteer work that financially supports the entire congregation.

Frank and Leila Espinoza are well known to the church for contributing their time to organizing events and devoting their charity work for the safety and well being of the church.

“It’s a beautiful congregation that’s made up of different races and ethnicities and our one priest that is bilingual,” said Mr. Espinoza

“This mission was rebuilt in 1995 but was first established in 1947 as part of the Diocese of Fresno,” Espinoza said. “The whole world is divided into diocese, and Fresno is the one we’re a part of since that is where our only Bishop, John Steinbock, used to reside.

“We no longer have a bishop anymore,” said Espinoza.

The inside of the structure is also composed of handcrafted and stenciled artwork that is flourished on the walls, ceiling beams and at the altar of the mission.

“It’s a beautiful church and each piece of artwork has either been donated or specially made for us by crafted artisans. The stained glass windows each give a message that educates people of California’s ancestral heritage, our state flower and animal, along with plant and animal life that make up our state. If you look closely you can see, in the Bakersfield window, the Tejon Ranch symbol and Kern County’s agriculture around it,” said Espinoza.

The mission’s sacristy has a variety of different sacred vessels, consisting of paintings and saints that have also been handed down to the church by different people. “We have one of the largest sacristies and as you can see, and it holds many sculptures that we keep on display for historical purposes,” said Espinoza. “Our library in the back is part of the exhibit. It contains many collected books that explain the history of California missions and how they were founded, including different writings by high thinking theologians and philosophers.

“San Clemente Mission is a historical landmark that not only welcomes every part of Bakersfield’s community but also gladly gives tours to elementary schools that want to give students an idea of what original California missions look like and the history behind them.”