chapel of ease

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

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

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chapel of ease British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of chapel of ease

First recorded in 1530–40

Example Sentences

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Callington is in the ecclesiastical parish of North Hill, and the church is merely a chapel of ease.

From Cornwall by Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)

"Then he must be the curate, ma'am; though I don't think it's a chapel of ease he has got into."

From Handy Andy, Volume One A Tale of Irish Life, in Two Volumes by Lover, Samuel

It was built by a Mr. Richard Hunt, to whose memory there is a tablet on the wall, and was opened as a chapel of ease in 1814.

From Hammersmith, Fulham and Putney The Fascination of London by Besant, Walter, Sir