Chantries

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of chapel or altar that is dedicated to the purpose of offering masses for the souls of the deceased
2. Foundations established for the maintenance of religious services and the commemoration of individuals, often involving monetary donations
3. Sacred places where priests or clergy perform rituals and prayers intended to benefit the souls of the departed souls through dedicated efforts

Etymology: Chantries were endowed chapels or altars where priests sang or said Masses for the souls of the dead, often for a founder's family, and the name comes from the sense of singing itself. Middle English "chaunterie" was borrowed from Old French "chanterie", a derivative of "chanter", "to sing", which descends from Latin "cantare", the source of "chant" and "cantor" in English. The plural "chantries" is simply the plural of "chantry". The word therefore preserves the memory that the most important work of these foundations was musical: the sung Mass and the chanted prayer were the services being paid for, so the building was named after its song.