Chapel
A
chapel is a
church other than a
parish church, often attached to a larger institution such as a
college, a
hospital, a
palace, or a
prison.
One of the best known is that at King's College, Cambridge, which has a renowned choir.
Another famous chapel is Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo's paintings on its ceilings.
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.
Chapels are local church buildings used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name of the church is on the outside of the building, and there is usually a steeple without a cross. In the main room of the chapel used for the Sacrament meeting there are no paintings, flags, statues, carvings, or symbols. Although some chapels have pictures on stained glass. There are pictures or paintings in the hallways and in the classrooms and offices. There is an office for the Bishop or Branch President of the local "Ward" or "Branch" of the church. There are several classrooms used for Sunday School, Seminary classes, and youth groups on Sunday and throught the week.
Stake Centers are also used for weekly services.