After the arrival of the Spanish Franciscans, California was introduced to the religion of Christianity. The Spanish then created many historical missions to practice and spread their knowledge of the Christian religion. These missions were placed along California's coastline by Padre Junipero Serra. The tenth mission which was created two years after Junipero's death was established on the feast of St. Barbara, December 4, 1786. This is when mission Santa Barbara raised it's cross by Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen. Padre Antonio Paterna, a companion of Serra, was placed in charge. Paterna put up the first buildings and made the first converts to Christianity.

The original buildings within the church were adobe and unpretentious. However as time passed, the building's design progressed and became more developed. There were three adobe churches built over the years, although eventually they were all destroyed the third by earthquake in 1812. The present church with...