freechapel

English

Etymology

From free +‎ chapel.

Noun

freechapel (plural freechapels)

1. (historical) A chapel founded by the king of England or built under a grant from the king, which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the local bishop or other ruling member of the clergy.
   • 1751, Stephen Whatley, England's Gazetteer:

     Radfield-Chapel, (Kent,) in the p. of Bapchild, had once a freechapel, the ruins of which are yet remaining; the lands of which were by K. Edw VI. given to John Bateman, whose successor gave it by will to John Bateman of Wormsell. The steeple of its Ch. is a sea-mark.

   • 1806, Francis Blomefield, Charles Parkin, An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk:

     There is piece of land called chapel-yard, late parcel of the possessions of the priory of Hickling, where a freechapel stood formerly, of which I have no further account in any evidences that I have seen.

   • 1814, Daniel Lysons, Magna Britannia;: Cornwall, page 49:

     The incumbent is called in old records Dean of the King's freechapel of St.Burian.