1711: Church Building

During the early 18th Century, the Colonists were scattered over a large area and poverty ran rampant. The tax collectors had a difficult time collecting money from them and local religious leaders feared that they weren't fulfilling their obligations as Catholics.

The Bishop of León was especially dismayed at the lack of attendance at mass. In response, he ordered the Colonists to build churches in hopes of getting them to become more active members of the Church. He was so set on this idea that three years later he decreed excommunication for all who failed to participate. Even then the Colonists were slow to obey. Historians believe that the main reason why they were unwilling was because they didn't have any decent clothing to wear to church.

This date in history shows the extreme level of Catholicism in Costa Rica, even in the early 1700s. Without the proper clothing, they didn't feel comfortable or welcome inside the church.