Father Miguel Sanchez is the first of eight Franciscan priests who are buried on the grounds of the mission.
Between 1775 and for the next 28 years, Fathers Antonio Cruzado and Miguel Sanchez worked together to make Mission San Gabriel one of the most successful missions in California.
Mission San Gabriel was founded in 1771 by Father Junipero Serra. Its oldest bells were cast in Mexico City in 1795 by the famous bell maker Paul (Pablo) Ruelas.