San Juan Mission began its work among the Navajo people in 1910 when a Methodist woman, a Mrs. Wilcox, petitioned the then Episcopal Missionary District of New Mexico and Arizona to do medical work in the Farmington area. St. John’s Episcopal Church was designated as the ‘parent congregation’ to the mission work. The work began with a clinic located in a small building along side the San Juan River. In 1911 a devastating flood inundated the little mission forcing it to move up the hill to its present location. Building was begun on the hospital after recovery from the flood and construction of the hospital and chapel, where a small Navajo congregation worshiped, was completed in 1923. This was the first hospital to serve Navajo people in the county.

With the advent of the Indian Health Service Hospital in Shiprock, the need for the hospital ceased to exist. The hospital was closed to inpatient services in 1958. A clinic continued to serve the people of the area. In addition, a children’s shelter was set up to care for children who were abandoned. As other public facilities gradually took over these services, new ministry developed. An alcohol treatment facility was established, which has now been turned over to the city and local hospital. The Mission building now holds the offices of the Navajoland Area Mission.

All Saints’ Chapel/St. Michael’s is located on the grounds of San Juan Mission just outside of Farmington, New Mexico. It was built in the 1950’s to serve the community around San Juan Mission. This past year St. Michael’s congregation from Upper Fruitland has been worshipping with us so we can join our gifts together to better serve the community. We are actively engaged in children’s ministry, working through the philosophy of the Hooghan Learning Circle to teach children the Gospel in the context of Navajo culture. Other important activities in the community are our annual fall and spring fund-raisers where we sell traditional Navajo cuisine and have fun and games for the whole family. The congregation is bi-racial and worships on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. Our Youth minister is Ms. Cornelia Eaton of St. Michael’s, and our volunteer clergy person is the Rev. Rosella Jim, a lifelong member of the congregation at All Saints’ Chapel.