The Origin Of Chapel Names

If you look closely, you will find the same names repeating themselves in different communities.

Naturally, the inspiration for most of the names comes from The Bible so I will now present a list and an explanation of their origin.

The Full List

Ainon

Bethania Bethany Bethabara Bethel Bethesda Bethlehem Beulah Bryn Seion

Caersalem Calfaria Carmel Cosen

Ebenezer Elim Emanuel

Gosen

Hebron Hermon Hope Horeb

Jerusalem

Libanus

Moriah Mount Zion

Nazareth Nebo Noddfa

Penuel Pisgah Providence

Ramah

Salem Saron Seilo Seion Siloam Siloh Sion Soar

Tabernacle Tabor Temple Trinity

Zion Zoar

  Ainon

Welsh. Derivative of 'Aenon' meaning "springs" . The name of a place near to Salim (not to be confused with Salem) where John baptised.

  Bethania

Aramic word for the place better known as Bethany.

  Bethany

Scholars tend to disagree on the meaning of the word - 'House of Dates' or 'House of Misery'.

A village some two miles from Jerusalem near the road to Jericho.

The scene of some of the most important events in the life of Jesus. The home of Mary and Martha and from where he raised Lazarus from the dead.

  Bethabara

A place on the eastern bank of the Jordan river where John baptised.

  Bethel

'House of God'

It is first mentioned in The Bible with reference to Abraham who built an alter there.

Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, had his vision at this location of the staircase reaching into the heavens with the angels ascending and descending on it.

  Bethesda

'House of grace'

A pool in Jerusalem where Jesus performed one of his healing miracles.

  Bethlehem

'House of bread'

The birthplace of Jesus. It was also the ancestral home of David.

  Beulah

'Married'

Isaiah’s name for the Promised Land.

  Caersalem

Caer(Welsh) = 'Stronghold, Fort, City' + salem

  Calfaria

Welsh for 'Calvary'. Derives from the latin 'Calvaria' meaning 'The Skull'

The place of execution outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.

  Carmel

'Orchard of God'

The name of a mountain range and a town in the Old Testament.

  Ebenezer

'Stone of help'

A place where Israel was defeated by The Philistines and The Ark Of The Covenant was captured.

Some twenty years later the defeat was reversed and a stone named 'Ebenezer' was placed to commemorate that reversal.

  Elim

'Large Trees'

An encampment of The Israelites after they crossed the Red Sea.

  Emanuel

Welsh. Derives from Emmanuel 'God with us'.

The title applied to The Messiah.

  Gosen

(also Welsh: Cosen)

Derives from Goshen. A fertile land in Egypt where Jacob and his family were allowed to settle during the rule of Joseph.

  Hebron

'Alliance'

City to the south of Jerusalem.

It was here that the angels revealed to Abraham that he would have a son who would be called Isaac.

  Hermon

'Sacred Place'

A mountain east of the Jordan river. The probable site of the transfiguration of Jesus.

  Hope

Christian 'hope' has a special meaning. It is not about wishful thinking but a firm assurance of things that are unseen and are in the future.

  Horeb

'Mountain of God'

Where Moses heard God speaking through the burning bush.

  Jerusalem

The 'City of David'. The capital city of the Israelite nation.

The city played a signification role in the life and ministry of Jesus.

The ancient city was completely destroyed by the Romans in AD70 and a new Roman city built.

  Libanus

Latin version of 'Lebanon'. Would refer more to Mount Lebanon than the country.

The mountain is rich in cedar wood and there is a reference in the Old Testament of it being used to build the temple in Jerusalem.

So, in that context, Libanus could simply mean 'Temple'

  Moriah

The hill at Jerusalem where Solomon built his Temple.

  Mount Zion

(also Welsh: Bryn Seion)

Strictly, a hill overlooking the pool of Siloam named after the fortified city, Zion.

  Nazareth

'watchtower'

A town in lower Galilee where Jesus spent his early years.

  Nebo

The name of a mountain opposite Jericho from where Moses viewed the Promised Land.

  Noddfa

Welsh. Means haven or refuge. A place of peace and welcome.

  Penuel

'face of god'

A place where Jacob wrestled with 'an angel' from which he declared "I have seen God face to face"

  Pisgah

A mountain ridge associated with Nebo.

  Providence

The continuous activity of God in His creation by which He preserves and governs.

  Ramah

'height'

A city of the tribe of Benjamin. Where Jeremiah, amongst the Jewish captives of Nebucadnezzar, was held.

  Salem

'peaceful'

A city usually identified with ancient Jerusalem captured by David and turned into the capital city of Judah.

  Saron

Israeli name meaning 'his song'

  Siloam

A storage pool and water tunnel in ancient Jerusalem.

  Siloh

(also Welsh: Seilo)

Derives from Shiloh. The first permanent home of the tabernacle. The main sanctuary of worship for the Israelites after their conquest of Canaan.

  Tabernacle

The tent that served as a place of worship by the Israelites.

  Tabor

A location where Samuel told Saul he would find men bearing gifts as a sign of God's favour.

  Temple

Refers to the centralised place of worship built by Solomon in Jerusalem.

  Trinity

The coexistence of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

  Zion

(also Welsh: Seion or Sion)

The city of David and the city of God. Later used to describe the city of Jerusalem.

  Zoar

(also Welsh: Soar)

'little'

From the story of Lot and the destruction of the wicked cities including Sodom and Gomorrah. Zoar was spared as it was only, as its name implies, a little city.