"St Francis of Assisi church and La Fiesta Saloon each have a claim on the plaza at Ranchos de Taos. It is obvious that the church does not stand alone, but is integral to the community. Though the church and the village are historical, this image adds the symbols of contemporary society. The saloon's umbrellas, the basketball goalpost, automobiles, and speed bumps speak of a living and vital community and church. These symbols will change, but the church will remain."

— Paul Logsdon

A source of inspiration for artists, travelers and natives alike, the mission church of Saint Francis of Assisi, in Ranchos de Taos, has been worshipped in, painted and photographed by artists and travelers who have lived in or passed through northern New Mexico. Its mysterious sculptural form, created out of the indigenous building materials of adobe and wood, has been portrayed by more artists than any other church in the United States.

The village of Ranchos de Taos was settled by the Spanish in 1716. "The Ranchos Church," San Francisco de Asis, was completed in 1815 and provides one of the best examples of Franciscan Old World architectural ideals combined with New World building techniques.

The church is fortress-like, with adobe walls four feet thick and enormous buttresses. Light plays off its enormous sculptural form to reflect the change of line, time and space. The church's surface holds the community's history—generations of hands plastering and replastering the adobe walls. For many Taosenos, the church provides a place of worship on Sundays and holidays, for others it provides an anchor in the landscape.

The Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe published a book of paintings, photographs and essays in tribute to this New Mexico landmark. Spirit and Vision: Images of Ranchos de Taos Church includes 54 color and 37 black and white paintings and photographs of the Ranchos Church including work by Georgia O'Keeffe, Andrew Dasburg, Los Cinco Pintores, Ansel Adams, Laura Gilpin and many others. In the forward essay, Dr. George Kubler, Yale University comments:

The church itself is open to respectful visitors Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. On October 4, the feast of St Francis is celebrated in the church and the village. Many of the old adobe homes around Ranchos Plaza now house galleries, shops and restaurants, so be sure to plan enough time to explore the community.