” en esta tierra los patios son muy grandes y muy gentiles, porque la gente no cabe en las iglesias, y en los patios tiene su capilla para que todos oyan misa los domingos y fiestas, y las iglesias sirven para entre semana.“
Motolinía: Memoriales, I, 92-93One curious and distinctive development of early ecclesiastic architecture in Mexico is the open chapel. The three great monastic orders which early in the sixteenth century divided up Mexico for its spiritual welfare were amazingly successful. The construction of churches, rapid though it was, failed to keep pace with the thousands of converts who thronged to the services and filled the existing buildings to overflowing. Realizing that their Indian followers must have frequent opportunities for attending mass, the monks conceived the idea of erecting small chapels, large enough to shelter the altar and so constructed as to render it visible to great numbers of Indians outside. As the years passed, great cathedrals and many parish churches arose until there were more than enough to serve the people. The open chapels were gradually abandoned or enclosed and dedicated to special uses. Many have disappeared but those which remain provide an interesting commentary upon early colonial religious life in Mexico.