Forms: 4 chaunsel, Sc. chancell, -sell, chancer, -ser, 4–7 chauncell, 5–6 chauncel, 6 chauncelle, chawnsell, 7 chancell, 6– chancel. [a. OF. chancel:—late L. cancellus in same sense, f. L. cancelli bars of lattice-work: the plural name being extended from the grating or screen of lattice-work to the place that it enclosed, and then made singular. Mod.F. has chanceau; but usually cancel, assimilated to the Latin name retained in ecclesiastical use.]
[1. ‘Used to denote a separate division of the ancient basilica, latticed off to separate the judges and council from the audience part of the place’ (Gwilt, Encycl. Archit.).
This is the original of the chancel in a church; but the sense hardly occurs in English.]
2. ‘The eastern part of a church, appropriated to the use of those who officiate in the performance of the services’ (Parker, Gloss. Archit.), and separated from the other parts by a screen, railing, etc.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8806. Þe lewede man holy cherche wyl forbede To staunde yn þe chaunsel whyl men rede.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 356. Thair chancer [v.r. chansell] full sturdely Thai held.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 99/3. Poul entred … within the chauncell and put hym to prayer.
1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. de Invent., V. viii. 109 b. The vpper parte of the Church called the Chancel or Quire.
1648. Lightfoot, Glean. Ex., 38. It consisted of three parts … as our Churches doe, of the Chancell, Church, and the Churchyard.
1697. Bp. of Lincoln, Charge, in Southey, Comm.-pl. Bk., Ser. II. (1849), 68. A part of the church … prepared for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, which we call the Chancel.
1818. Cruise, Digest, III. 44. A clerk had given a bond to the patron … to keep the rectory house and chancel in repair.
1870. F. Wilson, Ch. Lindisf., 16. Long chancels were then in great esteem.
† 3. transf. Used of other buildings, as the temple at Jerusalem, heathen temples, etc. Obs.
c. 1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 282/2. Poore chauncell, open holes in every side: beddes of silke with tapites going all about his chambre.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph. (1877), 233 (D.). The priest went into the priue chauncell, and … came forth againe, and aunswered that Jupiter did … make him a graunt of his boune.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 340. Holie of holies … or the chauncell of the temple.
1649. Lovelace, Poems, 112. Enter the dismall chancell of this roome.
4. Comb., as chancel-arch, -building vbl. sb., -casement, -screen, -steps, -window; chancel-table, a communion-table.
1832. Tennyson, May Queen, New Year’s Eve, vi. Upon the chancel-casement, and upon that grave of mine.
1846. Keble, Lyra Innoc. (1873), 116. ‘Else,’ warning Love cries out, ‘beware Of Chancel screen and Altar stair.’
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 18. Many a great chancel-window.
1863. Sir G. Scott, Glean. Westm. Ab., 14. The pier of the chancel-arch.
1882. Athenæum, 5 Aug., 183/3. Wholesale ‘restorations’ (the leading object of many of which is chancel-building).
