Orig. Our Lady (or Lady’s) chapel. A chapel dedicated to the Virgin, attached to large churches, generally situated eastward of the high altar.
1439. in E. Eng. Wills, 114. A C lb wex to mynystere and to serue to the vse of the Salue of oure lady chapell yn the said chirch of seynt Austyns.
1553. T. Rose, in Foxe, A. & M. (1583), II. 2084/2. I was called agayne into Christes church within their Ladies chapell (as they termed it).
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey (1893), 78. And there … in our Lady Chappell he says his servyce & masse.
1710. Hearne, Collect. (O. H. S.), II. 339. Queen Katherin … was buried at Westminster, in our Ladies Chapell.
1718. B. Willis, Mitred Abbeys, I. Index 2. The Lady Chapel [in text our Ladys Chapel] adorn’d and other parts of the Church improved.
1880. Times, 8 June, 4/1. There was a chancel at the east end, and at the side a ‘Lady chapel’—each with its altar.
