Capillas of Old Santa Fe

La Capilla de San Ysidro Labrador, aka Cerro Gordo Chapel

We get the word 'chapel' from Latin, by way of French. In the 4th Century in western France, Martin of Tours gave half of his soldier's cloak to a beggar, leaving himself with only a cape (capella in Latin). The beggar was Christ himself, according to legend, and the future Saint Martin laid down his weapons and took up the cross. Later the Frankish kings would come to possess this holy relic, and ironically would bring it with them into battle. The tent where the cape was kept was itself soon referred to as the capella, and eventually this became the word for any small place of religious worship outside of a full-fledged church.

Cerro Gordo Chapel.

In Spanish, with an slight vowel change, the word became 'capilla'. For the colonial Spanish settlers of the New World, the word specifically referred to a small private chapel built next to a family's home. New Mexico has a number of colonial-era capillas that can still be found. On Cerro Gordo, a mountain just outside of Santa Fe, a capilla dedicated to San Isidro Labrador was built by Santero Ramon Jose Lopez. San Isidro is the patron saint of farmers, born near Madrid, during the 11th century. San Isidro and his wife, Santa Maria Torribia are the patrons of all married people.

Another beautiful old capilla can be found in Santa Fe, on San Acacio Street - La Capilla de Santa Ines del Campo. St. Agnes is the patron saint of rural folk and field hands, and while her feast day is traditionally in January, New Mexicans celebrate the occasion on August 5th. The capilla was built by Manuel Rodriguez and his son Felix in the late 19th century, but burned down in 1900. The place you see now was rebuilt in the 1930's, and Felix's twinswho died at birth are buried underneath. This chapel is also important for local celebrations honoring the Blessed Mother, as well as St. Agnes.