Chapel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Historically and at the present day in the Roman Catholic church and other Episcopal denominations, a chapel is typically a private church or area of worship, often small and attached to a larger institution such as a college, a hospital, a palace, or a prison. One of the best known is the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, famous for Michelangelo's paintings on its ceilings. Another famous chapel is a part of King's College, Cambridge in England, which also has a renowned choir.
In Britain the word chapel has other meanings in common usage: in England, and even more so in Wales, many non-Anglican Protestant church buildings are commonly referred to as chapels, even by the chapel-goers themselves; in Scotland any Roman Catholic church building is known to many as "the chapel".
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History
The earliest Christian places of worship are now often referred to as chapels, as they were not dedicated buildings but rather a dedicated chamber within a building, such as a room in an individual's house. However, the earliest chapels that were identified separate from a church or a presbytery were the memorials constructed for the Martyrs. However, even at this point they were not referred to as a chapel.
That terminology came later from a relic of Saint Martin. He gave half of his military cloak to a beggar in need. The other half he wore over his shoulders as a cape (Latin capella). This cape came into the possession of the Frankish kings, and they kept the relic with them as they did battle. The tent which kept the cape was called the capella and the priests who said daily Mass in the tent were known as the capellani. From these words we get the names "chapel" and "chaplain".
In English history, "chapel" was formerly the required designation of the churches of nonconformist faiths, which is to say, any Protestant churches outside of the established Church of England. It was a word particularly associated with religious practice in Wales.
This distinction had an impact in the Irish language in the Middle Ages, as Welsh people came with the Norman and Old English invaders to the island of Ireland. While the traditional Irish word for church was éaglais, a new word, ceipéal (from chapel) came into usage.
Modern Usage
While the usage of the word "chapel" is not exclusively limited to Christian terminology, it is most often found in that context. Nonetheless, the word's meaning can vary by denomination.
Catholicism
A chapel can refer to a number of structures or concepts within the Roman Catholic Church, including:
- Side Chapels - a chapel within a cathedral or larger church.
- Lady Chapels - these are really a form of side chapel, but have been included separately as they are extremely prevalent in the Catholic church. They are dedicated to the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Ambassador's Chapels - allow ambassadors from Roman Catholic countries to worship whilst on duty in Protestant countries.
- Bishop's Chapels - Bishops are permitted the right to have a chapel in their own home, even when travelling.
- Chapels of Ease - constructed in large parishes to allow parishoners easy access to a church or chapel.
- Summer chapels - A small church in a resort area that functions only during the summer when vacationers are present.
In canon law, a distinction is made between a chapel, an oratory, and a church. Churches are fully public buildings and anyone can attend services there. Oratories are semi-private as some people besides the owners can attend services with permission of the bishop, and chapels are completely private and are opened to public use only by permission of the owners.
Protestantism
The word "chapel" often takes on a much broader meaning within most Protestant denominations. In some cases, a chapel may not necessarily be a separate building but a smaller, secondary sanctuary within a larger building, a concept not unlike the word's original usage. Examples could include a separate chapel used for weddings and private functions at a church building or a non-denominational room used for worship by visitors to public areas such as airports and hospitals. The latter is an instance where the word "chapel" has migrated into secular Judeo-Christian linguistics and taken on a meaning not necessarily restricted to Christianity.
Another usage of the word "chapel" may not refer to a meeting space at all but rather an event. For example, some institutions of learning hold worship services that are referred to simply as "chapel," as in, "I'm going to chapel tonight." Again, this is a term which is Protestant in origin but is often used in a non-denominational context.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, chapels are local church buildings (alternately referred to as "meetinghouses"). LDS chapels bear a strong similarity to each other due to the exacting nature of Church policy, which leaves little room for variation by individual congregations. A typical chapel will include rooms set aside for Sacrament Meetings, Sunday School classes, Priesthood and Relief Society meetings, offices for local clergical leadership, a baptismal font, and often a kitchen and a recreational area. Specifics are altered according to congregational need, but will still display far greater commonalities than most other Christian denominations.
Chapels should not be confused with temples, which are used for different functions within the Church. Chapels host regular sabbatical services and other, congregation-specific functions during the week, whereas temples are used for limited, specific ceremonies that are attended only by faithful Church members.
