We were driving the other day and, I\u2019m not sure why, but I asked Claire what is the difference between a Church and a Chapel. Turns out that neither one of us really knew the answer. We attend St. Agnes Church, but a block or so away is the St. Agnes Chapel. We\u2019ve gone to Mass in both buildings\u2026 why is one a church and one a chapel? Well, I figured this subject just begs for some extensive research on my part. Like a lot of things I\u2019ve dug into lately, a satisfactory answer to how a church differs from a chapel is difficult to come by.<\/p>\n
Since we go to a Catholic Church, I figured the Code of Canon Law might be a good place to start\u2026 These definitions are interesting, but not especially satisfying. My research uncovered some more definitions \u2014 some I hadn\u2019t even thought about, but tend to expand the terminology and instead of zeroing in on the solution just expanded the question\u2026. So religious places and\/or buildings go by various names and there appears to be a good reason for each being called what it\u2019s called\u2026.. obviously this whole subject became much broader in scope than I had anticipated. I though it was pretty simple question but\u2026.<\/p>\n Anyhow, here\u2019s what I think, maybe, that I\u2019ve concluded with all my extensive research. To look at the big picture, the Roman Catholic Church is a church \u2014 in this case the term church can refer to the entire community of Catholic Christians worldwide or a particular location, like a parish. The Sistine Chapel is a chapel \u2014 a physical location\/facility.<\/p>\n I think a chapel can<\/em> be a church, but not all chapels are<\/em> churches. Some churches have small rooms or structures within the church called chapels \u2014 there are also small standalone structures called chapels that don\u2019t have all the characteristics of a church. And there are private chapels or chapels in single rooms in buildings like hospitals, airports, etc.<\/p>\n So\u2026. I guess if you\u2019re looking for God, you can find him in a church or<\/em> a chapel. Of course if you\u2019re looking for God and you think you have to go to a church or a chapel to find him, you probably won\u2019t find him at all\u2026. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We were driving the other day and, I\u2019m not sure why, but I asked Claire what is the difference between a Church and a Chapel. Turns out that neither one of us really knew the answer. We attend St. Agnes … Continue reading
\nI found these definitions:
\nCan. 1214 \u2014 By the term church<\/em> is understood a sacred building designated for divine worship to which the faithful have the right of entry for the exercise, especially the public exercise, of divine worship.
\nCan. 1223 \u2014 By the term oratory<\/em> is understood a place for divine worship designated by permission of the ordinary for the benefit of some community or group of the faithful who gather in it and to which other members of the faithful can also come with the consent of the competent superior.
\nCan 1226 \u2014 By the term private chapel<\/em> is understood a place for divine worship designated by permission of the local ordinary for the benefit of one or more physical persons<\/p>\n
\nA shrine is not attached to a specific community, whether a parish or an order or school, etc., but usually just to commemorate a specific saint or site or event. It\u2019s a place people visit, but are not regular congregants.
\nThe mother church of a diocese is known as a cathedral. It is the official church of the bishop of a diocese. The greek word cathedra means \u201cchair\u201d or \u201cthrone;\u201d the bishop\u2019s \u201cchair\u201d symbolizes his teaching and governing authority and is located in the principal church or \u201ccathedral\u201d of the local diocese, of which he is the chief pastor. The cathedral is always the most important church within a diocese.
\nA basilica is originally an architectural term \u2014 from the Greek basileios (\u201croyal\u201d) and referred to Roman government buildings. When Christianity was incorporated into the Roman Empire, the first public building used for worship were copied after this model, and retained the name and architectural style.<\/p>\n
\nIn summary, this is what I\u2019ve concluded, and I\u2019m going to leave it at that.
\nA church is a center of a community with its priest \u2014 a chapel is not
\nA church is consecrated \u2014 a chapel is not (I\u2019m really not sure about this one)
\nA chapel can be a structure inside a church \u2014 or \u2014 inside another building
\nA chapel is usually a place for individual worship \u2014 a church usually has a regular worship service.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n