La Iglesia De San Juan Bautista

It's a nice place to reflect for a moment.

You can sit in a pew and imagine the bloody turmoil and utter joy that has passed through its walls over the years. Its fervor has slowed to a dull roar. The local community still uses it for worship.

On an artistic note, the pulpit is unusual and beautiful. And I find the bullet-shaped Buddy Christ amusing, warm, and welcoming.

The church, built of locally-made adobes and vigas cut in the nearby Capitan Mountains, was the largest in Lincoln County when it was built. The town of Lincoln, and the parish, declined after the county seat was moved to Carrizozo in 1913. The church was downgraded to a mission of Santa Rita Parish in Carrizozo, and by the 1960's was in a serious state of disrepair. Sometime between 1961 and 1973 the building was sold to the State of New Mexico. Restoration work began in 1981 and has apparently continued sporadically since then. The most recent work, to restore the windows, was completed in 2015.

A great little spot that is very period-accurate and in the style of a Southwestern Catholic Church. Religious services are still held here regularly, so be mindful and respectful that you are in a place of worship.

The church is as authentic as it gets. The juxtaposition of this tranquil sanctuary in the middle of this town known for the Lincoln County war and steps away from the stone marking where two lawmen were gunned down is amazing. You can feel the history and ruggedness of what life was like back then. And still, it is a real, functioning church today. This town is an easily walkable time capsule of what the wild west was. Billy the Kid was here in the thick of it all.

Interesting town with an interesting history.

Fantastic.

Loved the service that was held during the Billy the Kid days.

We were there on a day that the church was being used for training so we didn't get inside. The place was interesting in light of all the history in town - Billy the kid and all. Fun visit but I wish we could have gotten in