Southern California’s historic San Gabriel Mission, which was built 1771, was ravaged by an early morning fire Saturday.
There were no injuries.
According to NBC News, the nearly 250-year-old Roman Catholic mission held many priceless artifacts that dated back to its founding.
Much of the interior and roof were damaged in the fire, which is under investigation by the San Gabriel Fire Department.
Capt. Antonio Negrete of the fire department called the scene “heartbreaking.”
Archbishop Jose Gomez tweeted photos of the destruction asking members of the community for prayers as repairs begin for the Southern California landmark.
“Our beloved #SanGabrielMission, founded in 1771, devastated by fire before dawn. St. Junípero Serra, pray for this land that you helped to found.”
Junipero Serra, who founded the mission, recently came under scrutiny for his colonization and brutalization of the Native Americans who occupied the land before he settled there.
Serra’s statue in Los Angeles was toppled in June amid the many protests that erupted all over the country calling for the removal of many racist statues.
Another statue of Serra was beheaded in Monterey in 2016.