Since the Council of Braga (canon 17) the need to physically separate the interior of the church (where only those accepted for communion must enter) from an exterior area (where others must wait) is indicated. These atriums or porticos are seen in constructions of Mozarabic architecture in the form of a porticoed space attached to the south wall, as in San Miguel de Escalada; and they are characteristics of Castilian Romanesque churches, especially in Segovia, where they have an important civil use in local social life. The tradition of bringing together open councils in the "anteiglesias" identified form and function, so that when town hall houses began to be built as independent buildings, it became customary to repeat the shape of the atrium or porch of the churches in similar structures, which receive very different names (porch, arcades, market, etc.).

In other cases, the atrium or portico takes the form of a covered structure that protects the main entrance to the church (in Germanic languages ​​waffenhaus") or vapenhus"), indicating the prohibition of carrying weapons inside the church).[8]​.

In others, the entrance or protected space or portico is under a tower, and can also act as a passage, following the model of some fortified doors in walled enclosures.

In New Spain the atrium was a simple architectural solution unique to the needs of spiritual conquest starting in 1521. Given the high numbers of indigenous people to evangelize, the mendicant friars used the space of the atrium as an extension of the nave "Nave (architecture)"), using open chapels as presbyteries "Presbytery (religious architecture)"). Furthermore, in the Indian towns it was the central site of spiritual life, being spaces where classes were also taught on various trades and on the new Western way of life.[9]​.

Churchyard") or kirkyard") are the Anglo-Saxon names for the land that surrounds a church, and which very often serves as a cemetery (graveyard")). It is usually delimited and accessed through a covered gate (lychgate")).[10]​.

Since the Council of Braga (canon 17) the need to physically separate the interior of the church (where only those accepted for communion must enter) from an exterior area (where others must wait) is indicated. These atriums or porticos are seen in constructions of Mozarabic architecture in the form of a porticoed space attached to the south wall, as in San Miguel de Escalada; and they are characteristics of Castilian Romanesque churches, especially in Segovia, where they have an important civil use in local social life. The tradition of bringing together open councils in the "anteiglesias" identified form and function, so that when town hall houses began to be built as independent buildings, it became customary to repeat the shape of the atrium or porch of the churches in similar structures, which receive very different names (porch, arcades, market, etc.).

In other cases, the atrium or portico takes the form of a covered structure that protects the main entrance to the church (in Germanic languages ​​waffenhaus") or vapenhus"), indicating the prohibition of carrying weapons inside the church).[8]​.

In others, the entrance or protected space or portico is under a tower, and can also act as a passage, following the model of some fortified doors in walled enclosures.

In New Spain the atrium was a simple architectural solution unique to the needs of spiritual conquest starting in 1521. Given the high numbers of indigenous people to evangelize, the mendicant friars used the space of the atrium as an extension of the nave "Nave (architecture)"), using open chapels as presbyteries "Presbytery (religious architecture)"). Furthermore, in the Indian towns it was the central site of spiritual life, being spaces where classes were also taught on various trades and on the new Western way of life.[9]​.

Churchyard") or kirkyard") are the Anglo-Saxon names for the land that surrounds a church, and which very often serves as a cemetery (graveyard")). It is usually delimited and accessed through a covered gate (lychgate")).[10]​.