CHAPEAU. See Cap of Maintenance.
CHAPEL, a building for religious worship. The word is derived from the Latin capella. In former times the kings of France during war always carried St Martin's hat into the field, and kept it in a tent as a precious relic; hence the place was called capella, and the priest who had the custody of the tent capellanus. From this circumstance the word capella came to be applied to private oratories.
In Britain there are several sorts of chapels. 1. Parochial chapels, distinct from the mother church. If there be a presentation ad ecclesiam instead of capellam, and an admission and institution upon it, it is no longer a chapel, but a church. 2. Chapels which adjoin to and are a part of the church. These were formerly built by honourable persons as private burying-places. 3. Chapels of ease, built in large parishes for the accommodation of the inhabitants. 4. Free chapels, such as were founded by the kings of England, and freed from all episcopal jurisdiction. 5. Chapels in the universities belonging to particular colleges. 6. Domestic chapels, built by noblemen or gentlemen for the use of their families.
The name of Chapel is also given to the body of printers engaged in any establishment, either because printing was first performed in chapels or churches, or because Caxton exercised the art in one of the chapels in Westminster Abbey. Hence the order or laws of the chapel, the secrets of the chapel, &c.