Ruins of the Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano at 26801 Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano, California on August 5, 2016. The Great Stone Church was an impressive structure in its day. It was said that the bell tower, which stood 12 stories high, could be seen from 10 miles away. And, the bells could be heard from further away than that. The church was first hit with an earthquake in 1800. Then in 1812, a series of earthquakes struck the church during Sunday service--pinning the doors closed. Before long, the ceiling and bell tower came crashing down--burying 40 native worshipers and 2 boys who were ringing the bell in the bell tower. Those 42 people are interred at the mission's cemetery.