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chapel of ease

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.
  1. a chapel in a remote part of a large parish, in which Mass is celebrated.


chapel of ease British  

noun

  1. a church built to accommodate those living at a distance from the parish church

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of chapel of ease

First recorded in 1530–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

No longer a regular parish, it is used for special occasions and is known as a "chapel of ease."

From Time Magazine Archive

To get around canon law, St. Mark's will technically be known as a "chapel of ease" rather than a parish for Catholics, but it will nonetheless be an approved place of worship.

From Time Magazine Archive

There, in 1780, a chapel of ease was built, and opened for worship on March 25, 1781.

From Chronicles of Strathearn by Macdougall, W. B.

It was on August 27, 1826, at eight in the morning, in a chapel of ease.

From The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the Lord's Dealings With George Müller by Wayland, H. L. (Heman Lincoln)

The church, situated at the junction of the three principal streets, is accounted a chapel of ease to the mother church of Ribbesford; and was rebuilt in its present neat, yet embellished style, about 1748.

From Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set. by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell