The East Texas missions had never been structures of a permanent nature, having been made primarily of logs and thatch. By dramatic contrast, San Antonio's Concepción ultimately became the best–preserved of all the old mission churches in Texas, and the only one in San Antonio to remain standing without ever having suffered a collapsed roof, walls, or other major structural failure. It is said to be the oldest unrestored stone church, not only in Texas, but in the nation. Father Habig, historian for the Franciscan Order, stated unequivocally that: "it is the oldest church of the Immaculate Concepcion of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the United States."

1) The open arches of the convento to the right of the church have been filled in with a door and a window to make the building habitable. Although it is hard to see, a man is reaching up towards the pulley above the well in the center of the photo.

Courtesy of the San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation