  We present the analysis of the measured orientations of 30 churches of the
island of Lanzarote, in the Canarian archipelago, built prior to 1810, as well
as a few buildings of later times, which represent a nearly complete sample of
all the island's Christian sanctuaries. Our study indicates that a definite
orientation pattern was followed on the island but, unlike what is often found
in most of the Christian world, it has two interpretations. On the one hand,
the representative orientation to the east (or west) is present. However, the
sample has also a marked orientation towards north-northeast which is, as far
as we know, a pattern exclusive to Lanzarote. We discuss the reasons for this
pattern and suggest that one possible explanation could be a rather prosaic
one, namely, that sometimes needs of everyday life are more relevant than --and
push individuals to make decisions at odds with-- religious beliefs. This work
is the beginning of the first systematic archaeoastronomical study ever
conducted with old churches in the Canary Islands [abridged].
