Ximenes Chapel
historic place
The Ximenes Chapel is a historic place located in San Antonio, Bexar County. A stone cross on the chapel bears an inscription indicating its origin on May 9, 1813. This original chapel was later destroyed by fire. The current structure was rebuilt in the 1920s. The chapel was part of the homestead of Juan Ximenez, a soldier who participated in the 1835 'Storming of Bexar' during the Texas War for Independence. It is a rare surviving example of a family chapel built separately from a main residence. Inside, the chapel houses a Spanish-Colonial crucifix known as 'El Senor,' or 'The Lord.' This crucifix, credited with many wonders, was moved to the chapel from Mission Valero, now known as the Alamo, in 1793. The Ximenes Chapel has long been an important gathering place for San Antonio's Mexican-American and Hispanic Catholic community, serving as a popular site for prayer for generations.