Acoma Mission.

The mission of St. Steven of Acoma (San Esteban del Rey), built from 1629 to 1642, is one of the best preserved and most representative prerevolt churches in New Mexico. It still functions today as a parish church atop Acoma Pueblo's mesa. Loosely based on Mexican mission plans, Acoma demonstrates clear evidence of indigenous Pueblo influence in both its structure and decoration. It was named after a Hungarian saint famous for converting the Magyars to Christianity.

Mexican Influences.

Dramatically sited on the mesa top in an eminently defensible position, the majestic adobe church is based on sixteenth-century fortress mission churches in Mexico such as St. Michael the Archangel in Huejotzingo, Puebla. Like its Mexican precedents, Acoma mission includes a large, single nave church with a fortresslike exterior, an adjoining cloister, an atrium or open church yard, and elevated open balcony chapels. Franciscan...