This building was the fifth Franciscan convent in the Province of Michoacán, established by Friar Martín de Jesús in the mid-16th century. The church and convent had a cemetery in front, and to the south there was an orchard and a plot of land protected by a stone fence, 365 varas long. Vegetables and provisions were grown there to supply the community. During the 18th century, several repairs were made and the convent was roofed with tiles. The convent was largely rebuilt in 1904 by Friar Buenaventura Chávez and served as a dwelling for the Franciscans until 1915.