The first church of Corpus Christi de la Isleta del Sur was completed in 1692. However, there had been religous activity in the area for ten years previously, ministering to the Franciscan missionaries, Spanish settlers and Tigua and Pueblo Indians who were refugees from the Pueblo revolt of 1680 in northern New Mexico.

This is the oldest continuously-operating church in the present United States. However, it did not go smoothly. Flood waters from the Rio Grande destroyed the first church in 1740. A new structure was completed on the same site in 1744. In 1829, this was washed away also. Using portions of the old structure, and moving to somewhat higher ground, the 3rd church was completed in 1851, and the silver dome was added in the 1880s. It is now named Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.